: An autorickshaw driver, part of a three member gang, including a retired government official,who tried to con eight persons into buying a petromax lamp which they said contained the valuable chemical iridium, has been arrested, police said today.
The man, along with his accomplice went to the residence of the retired Block Development officer's residence at Kunjandiyur on August 28 to inspect the lamp for sale.However the auto driver suddenly grabbed it and fled. The other man was then detained in the house, they said.
Police said a team went to the official's residence at the village yesterday on a complaint from the detained man's wife that he had been kidnapped for ransom. Eight 'buyers' there and the man took to their heels on seeing them.
The retired BDO managed to escape but the others were caught.
The autorickshaw driver was arrested here yesterday and the lamp seized from him, they said.
