Priyanka mastermind behind kidnapping drama in Karipur gold heist

KARIPUR: Police investigations confirmed that the abduction of a woman at Calicut Airport was a pre-planned ruse. The police discovered that Priyanka (34), a native of Thiruvangad, Thalassery—who arrived from Dubai carrying 18 sovereigns of gold—was the mastermind behind the scheme to misappropriate the gold.

The dramatic events unfolded around 11:30 AM on Wednesday in the international area of ​​Calicut Airport. Priyanka, who had arrived with gold entrusted to her by an individual named Safwan in Dubai, failed to hand it over to Jabir—a native of Shivapuram, Mattannur, who had come to collect it—and instead fled the scene in a blue Baleno car. Upon witnessing the attempt to steal the gold, Jabir chased after the vehicle and alerted the police.

The Karipur SHO and his team, who were at the airport for routine patrolling and to investigate a robbery case from the previous day, pursued the car. With the assistance of residents, they managed to intercept the vehicle—which had swerved onto the Pulikkal Anthiyurkunn Road, 12 kilometres away—and apprehend the occupants. Subsequent questioning revealed the truth behind the staged kidnapping.

Priyanka orchestrated the abduction to misappropriate the gold, rather than handing it over to Jabir. In addition to Priyanka, those arrested include Sreelal, Prince, and Subith—all natives of Kannur—as well as Jabir, who had arrived to collect the gold.