A routine evening at a busy Chennai traffic signal turned into a scene of dramatic rescue and police bravery this past Saturday. A traffic sub-inspector's alertness led to the interception of a kidnapping in progress and the safe recovery of a victim from a van on the East Coast Road (ECR).
Signal Stop Turns into Dramatic Rescue
Around 7:30 PM on Saturday, Sub-Inspector Dharmalingam, who was on duty managing traffic at the Akkarai signal on ECR, heard desperate cries for help. The shouts were coming from inside a van that had stopped at the signal. Acting on instinct and without a moment's hesitation, SI Dharmalingam immediately moved to block the vehicle's path.
His swift action caused panic among the occupants. Two men inside the van flung open the doors and fled the scene on foot. However, Dharmalingam managed to secure the vehicle and apprehend the five remaining individuals. Most importantly, he successfully extracted the kidnapped victim, Dharma Raj, from the van, ensuring his safety.
Background of the Abduction and Motive
The initial investigation by police revealed a financial dispute as the motive behind the crime. The 31-year-old victim, Dharma Raj, hails from Sevvapet in Tiruvallur district and runs a washing-machine service shop on Avvai Street in the Thirumangalam area.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they had given a sum of money to Dharma Raj to invest in a private finance company. They abducted him because he had failed to return their funds. The abduction was premeditated and violent.
On December 5, while Dharma Raj was walking on Avvai Street, three men emerged from a van, confirmed his identity, and then forcibly dragged him into the vehicle. He was taken to a secluded location near Kovalam, where he was held captive overnight. The following day, his kidnappers filmed a video of him promising to repay the money, likely to use as leverage.
Police Procedure and Manhunt Continues
Following the rescue, SI Dharmalingam first took the five arrested suspects and the victim to the Neelankarai police station. Since the actual abduction had occurred within the jurisdiction of the Thirumangalam police station, the case and the suspects were subsequently transferred to them for further investigation and legal proceedings.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Sreeji (30) from Old Pallavaram
- Premkumar (36) from Zamin Pallavaram
- Yuvaraj (36) from Vanagaram
- Anand (25) from Manapakkam
- Venugopal (30) from Zamin Pallavaram
A search operation is actively underway to locate and arrest the two other suspects who managed to escape from the van at the Akkarai signal. The police are pursuing all leads to ensure the entire gang involved in this kidnapping is brought to justice.
This incident highlights the critical role of vigilant police personnel in public spaces. The quick thinking and courageous intervention by a traffic officer not only prevented potential harm to the victim but also led to the cracking of a serious criminal case on the spot.
