Kasargod: NRI forcibly photographed with woman, blackmailed - Three arrested
Stephan Kayyar
Daiiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)
Kasargod, Mar 26: The police of Vidyanagar station here have found out that a group of people had tried to force a non-resident Indian (NRI) from the district, who is employed in the Gulf region, to part with money, by blackmailing him after forcibly photographing him in the nude in the company of a young woman. Three persons have been arrested in this connection.
The arrested are K N Riyaz (34), a resident of Kapihitlu, Kasarogod, N A Shameer (31), a resident of Muttathodi, and Misbah (25) of Vidyanagar.
The police have registered case against 15 persons relating to this case, which was filed by a youth from Panala in Chengala. It is said that the incident had occurred in a hotel in the town a few days back.
The NRI in question and his friend had reportedly rented a room in a hotel here. A gang of ten, who approached the duo along with a girl, whom they introduced as a small screen actress, demanded payment of Rs 10 lac from the NRI. When he expressed helplessness, saying that he did not have the money, the gang forcibly removed his clothes, and clicked his photographs after making him stand alongside the girl.
The gang is then said to have posed a threat of making this photo public in case of failure to pay the money as demanded. The members of the gang thereafter urged for immediate payment of three lac rupees, duly offering to accept balance payment within a week thereafter. The youth reportedly told the gang that he did not have money, and promised to make payment after borrowing the same from a friend. The NRI said he could get out of the ugly situation he was put into by the gang members, on the basis of this promise.
The man then approached a friend, and at his advice, complained to the police. As advised by the police, the youth asked the gang members to come to Vidyanagar B C Road to collect money. Some police in plainclothes were present at the place beforehand. Three persons, who came there to collect the money, were arrested by the police. The police have registered a case of demanding ransom, attempt to robbery, and other crimes. The NRI has told the police that his motor bike and cell phone had been snatched away by the gang.