MADURAI: In a dramatic, but hugely reliving turn to the kidnap episode in Madurai, 2 girl children who were allegedly abducted by a gang on Thursday morning reached their home safely late last night. Police sources said that the kidnappers had dropped back the children- K Anusri (9) and K Jayasri (5) - daughters of a businessman Karthigaiselvam near New Pankajam Colony after they received a huge amount from their parents. Karthigaiselvam reportedly paid Rs 50 lakh for their release, said the source.A special team was formed to trace the kidnappers. On Thursday morning, the two children had left for school in a car. When they were travelling, the two persons who can in a car intercepted the vehicle at Teppakulam, said the police source.
The duo who were in civil dress, introduced themselves as traffic police and charged the car driver Pandian (30) from Vandiyur for rash driving, said the source. The two persons then got inside the car and asked Pandian to drive the vehicle. Their vehicle had followed the car to the Viraganoor ring road, said the source. The car driver then informed the police that the duo forced him to inhale chloroform and he fell unconscious. The gang then escaped with the children. When Pandian gained consciousness, he alerted Karthigaiselvam about the incident.
However, the Teppakulam police who are investigating the case, suspect the involvement of the driver in the case. “We doubt his claim that he was forced to inhale chloroform,” said a police officer. The police officer said that a gang including a woman was possibly involved in the case. “Our first priority is to save
the children. Now we are investigation the case from various angles, including whether the children was kidnapped by their relatives or persons who worked for Karthigaiselvam in the past,” the police official said. Karthigaiselvam, who owns a wholesale grocery store, also runs a ‘vadagam’ unit in Madurai. The driver Pandian has been working with him for the last 4 years, police added.
