THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nedumangad police on Thursday recorded the arrest of four men who were involved in the alleged kidnap and assault of 18-year-old youth at Azhikode.
The police identified the accused as Sulfi, 42, and his brother Suneer, 39, of Pathamkallu, Ayoob, 43, of Pathamkallu and Shajahan, 56, of Irumba near Aruvikkara. Abdul Malik, 18, an ITI student residing at Azhikode near Nedumangad is the complainant in the case.
The four accused had allegedly abducted Malik on Wednesday around 7 am from the poultry shop where he worked part time. They forcibly took him in their car and assaulted him till the car reached Nedumangad town. The accused then abandoned the teenager at the town and fled as they realised that Malik's screams were drawing attention of the people on the road.
The police said that Malik's kidnap and assault was a case of mistaken identity. Among the accused, Sulfi and Suneer owned a furniture shop at Azhikode. A few days ago, there was a skirmish at their shop during which their shop was vandalized by a group of men. The assailants also vandalized their makeshift watermelon shop. They suspected that Abdul Malik was involved in the skirmish and hence wanted to take revenge.
They were arrested by a team of police led by Nedumangad station house officer inspector Santhosh Kumar and sub inspector Sunil Gopi.
