Mangaluru: Police rescue abducted Kerala businessman, arrest two

Mangaluru, 26 Feb 2019 [Fik/News Sources]: Hosdurg police here have arrested two persons. They have been accused of clandestinely making a man from near Kanhangad, who is currently employed in the Gulf, to visit Mangaluru, confining him in a room there, brutally attacking him and posing him death threats.

The injured person, who hails from Padannakkad here, happens to be Haneef (42). He stands admitted into the district hospital at Kanhangad. Those who have been arrested on charges of attacking Haneef are Abubakkar Usman alias Abubakkar, and Ustad Abdul Rashid.

Haneef was running a business in the Gulf in the past. During that period, in partnership with another person, he had operated a business with an investment of three crore rupees. Later, differences had arisen between them. Haneef had thereafter returned home.

On the morning of Sunday February 24, Haneef got a call from an Ustad from Mangaluru, asking him to come to Mangaluru in order to settle dispute over the said business dealings through dialogue. Haneef, in accordance with the wishes of the Ustad, arrived at Mangaluru. On his arrival, he was kidnapped by a gang, it is said. He was kept in confinement in a building at Kudroli, where his abductors flashed a saber at him and threatened of killing him. The gang reportedly got certain documents signed by Haneef. Later, the gang members called Haneef's wife, and asked her to hand over documents relating to landed property to a person who would be visiting her.

Haneef's wife, who was overtaken by fear, informed Hosdurg police. The police immediately started to keep track of the developments. During this period, a person from Mukkoot near Kanhangad arrived at the residence of Haneef and sought title deeds relating to landed property. The police immediately took him into custody.

The police interrogated the man. During this period, the man said he was not aware about the whereabouts of the gang and where Haneef was kept. The police then referred the matter to cyber cell and came to know that the gang was at Kudroli, Mangaluru. They immediately sought help from Mangaluru police, who surrounded the building and rescued Haneef.

The police said that several other members of the gang are yet to be arrested, and a search is on for them.