Major twist in disappearance of deputy tahsildar; three people arrested

TIRUR: Turning point in the disappearance of PB Chalib, a native of Tirur, the deputy tahsildar of the taluk office. The police have arrested three people in connection with this. They were arrested for threatening Chalib and extorting around Rs 10 lakh. The arrested have been identified as Fesal and Shafeeq, natives of Randathani and Ajmal of Vettichira.

The accused had threatened the deputy tehsildar that they would destroy his family by implicating Chalib in a fake POCSO case. The action was taken on Chalib's complaint. Chalib has been missing since Wednesday. He had gone to the office as usual in the morning and had left the office at 5.15 am that day. Chalib told his wife that he would be late to reach home. Later, he said on WhatsApp that there was a raid at Irimbiliyam in Valancherry and that there was a police and excise team with him.

A complaint was lodged at the Tirur police station after Chalib was not seen even after 11 pm. Chalib's phone, which was switched off at 12.18 am, was on for some time at 6.55 am yesterday. Its mobile tower location was on the Palayam side of Kozhikode. The phone was turned on at night. While the police investigation was in progress, Chalib returned home around 12 pm on Friday. His relatives said he fleed due to mental difficulties.