Yogesh K Porwar
The Soladevanahalli police have arrested five persons, including students and private firm employees,for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a 19-year-old student to extort money from him.
The accused have been identified as Dikshith Gonzales, Dikshith,Shashank,Swaroop and Narasimha.
They have been booked under charges related to unlawful assembly,kidnapping for ransom,voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons,criminal intimidation and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Senior officer told reporters that the case came to light after the victim’s mother,filed a complaint at the police station on May 23.
In her complaint,she alleged that her son,Steev Aron Raj, was called by his friends—Dikshith Anthony Gonzales, Dikshith,Swaroop,Akash and Shashank near a roadside dhaba on Hesaraghatta Road around 3.30 pm on May 22 on the pretext of discussing a vehicle-related issue.
After reaching the spot,the accused allegedly snatched the victim’s bike key and mobile phone and demanded Rs.10,000 from him.
Following pressure from the accused,the victim’s friends allegedly transferred Rs.9,000 to the bank account of one of the accused,identified as Swaroop.
Police said the accused later forced the victim into a car and took him to an OYO room in Ganapathinagar around 5.15 pm.
At the lodge,the accused allegedly consumed alcohol, stripped the victim naked,recorded videos of him,and assaulted him using rods and machetes.
The victim was also kicked and threatened,while the accused allegedly demanded Rs.1 lakh from him.
Unable to arrange the money,the victim was later taken from the OYO room towards Nelamangala.The accused allegedly stopped near a dhaba around 10.30 pm,had dinner,and again threatened the victim,demanding Rs.30,000 for his release.
Based on the complaint,the Soladevanahalli police tracked down and arrested the five accused on Monday. Further investigation is underway.
Probe revealed that the victim was allegedly in touch with the sister of one of the accused harassing her .
Enraged by this the accused along with his associates planed to teach him a lesson in a hard way.
