Copyright thehindu
A gang of unidentified men on Tuesday night attacked a Kozhikode-based businessman on the national highway at Kalloor near Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district of Kerala and destroyed his car. The assault took place around 9.30 p.m. when C.S. Santhosh Kumar, with his driver Jineesh, was returning home after a visit to Bengaluru for business purposes. Police sources said the armed men who reached the spot in a multi-purpose vehicle without registration number tried to abduct the two after destroying the windshield and rear glass of their private car after a 10-minute-long assault. There were reportedly eight members in the gang who later escaped with the partly-damaged car, leaving the two on the road, the sources said. The incident came to light when Santhosh Kumar and his driver sought the help of the Sulthan Bathery police after escaping from the spot with the help of a local driver. Following an intensified search, the police recovered the private car, which was found destroyed in a deserted area at Mullankolly on Wednesday. Police sources said the attack was reportedly carried out by a gang suspected of having involvement in unaccounted money deals. The car was intercepted assuming that the two were carrying unaccounted money and other valuables brought from Bengaluru, they said. Following the victims’ complaint, the Sulthan Bathery police registered a case and started an investigation. Forensic experts also examined the vehicle. The complainant said he lost his costly laptop, mobile phone and a few other valuable business-related documents from the vehicle.
