8 arrested for abducting shop owner in Theni

Theni: Eight members of a gang who allegedly kidnapped a 38-year old fertiliser shop owner and demanded a ranson of Rs eight crore have been arested, police said on Saturday. They are looking out for four others involved in the kidnap earlier this week. Rajesh,38, running a fertiliser shop in Chinamanur, was kinapped by the gang members posing as farmers. They relieved him of his chain, ATM card and cash and detained him at a remote place near Malayanpatti. However, Rajesh managed to escape and lodged a complaint with Uthamapalayam Police following which Theni District SP Praveen Kumar Abhinu formed three separate teams to nab the gang. Police traced the gang members, by closely monitoring their mobile phone conversation, and arrested eight persons.They seized the car used for the kidnap and a motorbike today. One of the kidnappers was working in the shop of Rajesh and had been sacked after he allegedly swindled some money. PTI