In a cinematic chase, police arrests five people in an extortion case

Police personnel arrested five people for allegedly extorting Rs 5 lakh from a crockery shopkeeper near Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district after kidnapping him. 
The victim has been identified as Thangam, the owner of a crockery shop located near the Ilayarasanendal road railway tunnel bridge. 

The arrested persons are identified as Barangowda, 29, Das, 30, Daniel, 48, Paul, 33 and Feroz Khan, 48. Police have recovered the vehicle used for smuggling, cash worth Rs 5 lakh and a walkie-talkie. 
Introducing themselves as the police personnel, the accused had approached Thangam when he was at his shop a few days ago. They claimed to have come to the shop to look into the allegations of Thangam buying stolen items. When Thangam refused to have committed such a crime, they dragged him away in a vehicle, according to police sources. 

The source further said that when they neared Virudhunagar the accused had threatened to lodge him in prison upon failing to pay them an amount summing up to Rs 20 lakh and when he did not budge, they started to negotiate with him and brought down the amount to Rs 5 lakh. 

“Accepting to give the money, the victim asked his son Senthil to bring Rs 5 lakh to Virudhunagar. After asking him to come to different locations, the accused collected the money near a private school and released the victim,” the source said. Thangam, immediately, filed a complaint with Kovilpatti east police station who in turn collected CCTV footage of the shop and started investigating the case. 

After identifying the vehicle that was used for kidnapping with the help of CCTV footage, police located the car near the Karur Aravakurichi Velanchettiyur tool booth, according to the source. He further said that the vehicle crashed into barricades and fled when the police officials attempted to stop it. Police, then, blocked the traffic and encircled the vehicle near Velliyanai police station. Further investigation is on.