Extorted lakhs from 26-year-old; honey trap members arrested while returning from Kodaikanal

MALAPPURAM: A five-member gang, including two minor boys, was nabbed for assaulting a youth and extorting money from him after befriending him through social media. The arrested people are Areekode Kavanoor native Anwar Sadath (19). Puthalam native Ashiq (18), Edavanna native Harikrishnan (18). They were arrested on the complaint lodged by a 26-year-old youth hailing from Kavanoor.

The honeytrap gang befriended the 26-year-old victim through social media. The victim was lured into the honeytrap using the name of a 15-year-old boy, who was a member of the gang. As their online friendship grew stronger, the victim agreed to meet the minor in Areekode. However, when he came to Areekode to meet the boy, the gang members assaulted him and intimidated him. They then demanded money from him.

Initially, the gang extorted Rs 20,000 from the young man, and later forcibly took another Rs 1 lakh from him. The victim later gave the gang an additional Rs 40,000. However, when the accused demanded more money, the victim approached the police and filed a complaint. Following this, the police registered a case, investigated, and arrested the gang members while they were returning from Kodaikanal with the extorted money. Three members of the gang will be produced before the Manjeri Court today, while the other two will be presented before a special court.