Lankan held for ransom by group in Nagapattinam rescued

A Sri Lankan national was Wednesday rescued from a group of people who allegedly kept him in captivity at a village near Vedaranyam in the district coastal security group police said here.

Four people have been arrested in this connection, the police said.

Ramesh, hailing from Ilavalai village in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, had allegedly been involving in smuggling and had ties with the group of people, said police.

In 2017, a dispute arose between him and the group following which Ramesh was held to ransom for Rs 10 lakh from his Lankan counterparts, they said.

Since the amount was not settled, Ramesh remained in captivity in Naluvethapathy village for several months, said police.

Acting on a tip-off, the coastal security group laid a trap and a four-member group brought Ramesh in a mini-lorry, when the police rounded them up and arrested them.

Enquiries are on with Ramesh and the Nagapattinam group.