Kollam/Malappuram: In a gripping late-night drama that played out across multiple districts of Kerala, police on Thursday rescued UAE-based Indian businessman VP Shameer after he was abducted in a daring kidnap-for-ransom plot.
The 36-year-old, who was on a holiday in his home state of Kerala, was freed in a joint operation that brought down a six-member gang – including a disgruntled former employee who masterminded the crime.
The sensational rescue came after 48 hours of high-stakes pursuit, ransom calls from Shameer’s phone, and threats directed at his family. The ordeal ended when police intercepted the gang’s vehicle in Kollam, thwarting their plan to smuggle him into Tamil Nadu.
The Shocking Kidnapping
The drama began on Tuesday evening around 7:45 pm, when VP Shameer was returning home on his motorcycle in Malappuram. Suddenly, a Toyota Innova pulled up, and the businessman was forcibly dragged into the car by masked men.
What followed was a tense cat-and-mouse chase. Using CCTV footage and mobile location tracking, investigators traced the kidnappers’ route through Ernakulam and later Kollam. Suspicion grew stronger when the vehicle was linked to associates of the accused.
Police teams from multiple districts were mobilized, setting off a relentless hunt to pin down the gang before they could vanish across the border.
Ransom Calls and Terrifying Threats
On Wednesday, the case escalated further. Shameer’s business partner in the UAE received a chilling call from the businessman’s number. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of ₹1.5 crore for his safe release.
As if that wasn’t enough, Shameer’s wife also received threat calls warning her not to approach the police. The tone of the calls left the family shaken, as the criminals believed they had the upper hand.
But unbeknownst to them, investigators had already picked up critical leads. The biggest breakthrough came when Shameer’s phone briefly switched on twice in Ernakulam, providing a digital trail that eventually guided police to Kollam.
The Dramatic Rescue
After 48 hours of intense tracking and coordination, police finally closed in. On Thursday, around 11:30 am, a joint team of Malappuram and Kollam police intercepted a vehicle in Kuruvikkonam, Kollam district.
Inside, they found the kidnapped businessman – visibly shaken, assaulted, but alive. His captors, realizing the noose was tightening, had been attempting to move him into Tamil Nadu when the police struck with precision.
The rescue operation was swift and decisive. Six members of the gang were immediately taken into custody.
The Mastermind: A Betrayal from Within
The arrest revealed a shocking twist. The mastermind behind the abduction was none other than Puthu Veettil Shamseer (30), a former employee of the victim.
Police confirmed that Shamseer had been involved in over 50 of Shameer’s business ventures in the UAE. However, after being sacked, he grew resentful and allegedly issued threats to his former employer. What began as professional bitterness turned into a full-fledged revenge plot.
Joining him in the criminal conspiracy were:
- Achikka alias Hamseer (30)
- Fayas alias Mustafa (28)
- Afzal (30) of Ponnani
- Muhammad Naif (29) of Kollam
- Shaheer (30) of Kollam
Together, the gang meticulously planned the abduction, hoping to extract a massive ransom. But their overconfidence and repeated use of Shameer’s phone proved to be their undoing.
Businessman Speaks Out
Following his rescue, VP Shameer recounted the harrowing ordeal. He revealed that he had been assaulted by the kidnappers during captivity. “They hit me and threatened to kill me if my family didn’t pay up,” he said, visibly shaken after being freed.
The businessman, who runs a chain of pharmacy stores in the UAE, is now undergoing medical checks.
Police Triumph in a High-Pressure Case
Kerala Police described the rescue as a high-stakes operation that required precise coordination between district units and fast decision-making.
“What worked in our favor was the gang’s mistake of switching on the victim’s phone twice. That gave us the breakthrough we needed,” officials said.
The six arrested accused are now facing charges of kidnapping, extortion, criminal conspiracy, and assault. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the gang had external financial backers or connections across state borders.
A Chilling Reminder
The shocking kidnapping of a wealthy expatriate businessman in his home state has shaken Kerala, serving as a reminder that organized crime can strike even in familiar surroundings.
But the swift and coordinated police response has drawn praise, ensuring that the crime ended not in tragedy but in a sensational rescue and dramatic arrests.
For VP Shameer and his family, it was a narrow escape from a nightmare. For the police, it was proof that even the most daring of criminal plots can unravel under relentless pursuit.
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