BJP leader, six others held for kidnap bid
The cops also seized two pistols and three vehicles from the gang who barged into his home.
MALAPPURAM: The police on Tuesday arrested seven persons including national vice-president of BJP Minority Morcha Aslam Gurukkal and a Karnataka police constable identified as Keshava Murthy for attempting to kidnap Gulf-based businessman K.T. Rabeeullah. The cops also seized two pistols and three vehicles from the gang who barged into his home. All the arrested were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court here and remanded. They face charges under IPC Section 452 for attempting to abduct, IPC 365 for house trespass causing hurt and assault and Section 20 of the Arms Act for misusing weapons.
The arrested officer is the guard of Gurukkal who enjoys Y category security, the police said. Others have been identified as K.S. Abdul Rahman (Kasargod), Muhammed Riyas (Kodagu) and Usman, Sukumar and Ramesh, all from Bangalore. Three were caught by residents and four others nabbed from parts of Kozhikode. According to the police, the gang led by Gurukkal came from Bangalore in three different vehicles arrived the house of Mr Rabeeullah at East Kodur near Malappuram early morning on Monday and when the security men blocked the gang at the entrance, three of them jumped over the compound wall demanding to meet Mr Rabeeullah directly.
They also threatened the guard at gunpoint and damaged a car parked in the compound. Noticing this, neighbours detained two who were standing outside and damaged one of their vehicles. They were later handed over to the police. The police and residents caught them as they tried to escape. The incident took place a day after Mr Rabeeullah posted a video message on Facebook saying he was undergoing treatment. It was his first public appearance seven months after he landed at Calicut International Airport and disappeared. Social media was abuzz with rumours of his whereabouts for the past several days while he remained mysteriously absent.