SHIVAMOGGA: In an incident which took place in Shivamogga city limits on Thursday night, unknown assailants abducted JD (S) leader and businessman Heaven Habib's nephew and his acquaintance. While the kidnappers had posed a demand for Rs 5cr for releasing the boys, the town police was alarmed and they reached an isolated spot to hunt down the perpetrators.
However, as the police reached for rescue of the duo, one of the kidnappers identified as Zameer alias Baccha, reportedly threatened the cops at gunpoint and fled the spot with his partner. The kidnapped boys identified as Samiullah and Ansar are relatives of Habib who is a tile and marble businessman in Shivamogga. The kidnappers picked the duo from Habib's shop in the evening and fled in a vehicle. Later when the businessman received a call from his nephew's number for a ransom of Rs5cr, he reached out to Superintendent of Police.
The police immediately alerted the cops in the city and barricaded major exits. The kidnappers then called Habib with the ransom near Anupinakatte, which is towards Mangalore road. Following the lead provided by Habib, the police followed the kidnappers and reached the spot. However, on seeing the cops, the assailants threatened them on gunpoint and reportedly fled the spot with over Rs2lakh cash. The kidnappers were later chased by the police, however, they escaped.
Referring to the crime, the victims have alleged that they were kidnapped as a result of an old enmity with Baccha, who is also a rowdy sheeter. According to the local media, there are several cases of theft registered against Baccha in police stations in and across Shivamogga. Meanwhile, the SP has informed that a special team will be deployed in this case which will trace down the kidnappers and has claimed that they will be behind bars.