Three arrested for allegedly trying to kidnap children in Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 16, 2021: Three people who allegedly tried to kidnap children at Padavinangady have been arrested by Mangaluru City Police.

On January 13 around 7 pm, four children had been to the temple and had come out. Three people were on two wheeler on the road. One of them tried to cover the face of a boy with a gunny bag. When the boy escaped, he tried to catch another. An alert boy in the group immediately retaliated by throwing stone at the strangers.

The three strangers immediately fled from the spot.

City Police Chief N Shashi Kumar told reporters that based on a complaint at Kankanady Town Police Station, officials started an investigation and arrested the three accused- Rakshak Shetty (22) of Kavoor, Alistar Tauro (21) of Bondel, and Rahul Sinh (21) of KIOCL quarters, Kavoor. All the three are residents of places near Padavinangady.

Police said all three have cases against them.

While Rakshak Shetty has a case at Mangaluru North station (Tracepass, Criminal intimidation, hurt and insult), Alistar has three cases (all related to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) in Kavoor station. Rahul has one case at Kavoor police station (related to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act).

Was it a prank?

The accused have told the police that they are Youtubers and kidnap was a prank. However police are not convinced with this as there are many unanswered questions. Police have taken the three into custody for three days. They are probing the reason for kidnap. They are also checking if it was really a prank as submitted by the accused or if the accused are trying to get away from the police by giving such reason.

Meanwhile the Commissioner has also warned people of playing pranks in public.