Kakkanad: A four-member gang, including a woman, which blackmailed several people using a honey-trap, has been busted by the police here. The gang members, who operated from a rented house at Mundampalam, were arrested following an investigation carried out based on a complaint filed by a man from Pachalam, who was a victim of the fraud.
The police identified the arrested persons as Ajith (21) of Padinjaru Puthiyanikathil in Puthuvype; Theethaparambil Naushad (21) of Villummel, Thoppumpady; Kunnummel Sajid (25) of Koduvally in Kozhikode and Nasni (23) of Fort Kochi.
It was Nasni who contacted potential victims over phone and struck a friendship with them. Soon, she would lure the victim, mostly young men, to the house in Mundampalam. The three male gang members would then arrive at the spot and physically assault as well as disrobe the victim. Photographs of the victim with Nasni will be clicked and used for the blackmail. Subsequently, the victim would be stripped of all cash and mobile phone, taken to an ATM and forced to withdraw a large amount.
According to the police, the gang targeted people with good financial status. Sajid was earlier charged with a sexual harassment case by the Thamarassery police and a cheating case by the Ernakulam Central police.
The investigation into the honey-trap case was conducted by a team comprising Assistant Commissioner of Police, Thrikkakkara KM Jijimon; Inspector R Shabu; Sub-Inspectors K Madhu, Suresh and Josey; ASIs Girish Kumar, Anil Kumar and Binu; senior civil police officers Jabir, Hari Kumar and Dinil and woman police officer Rajitha.