Kidnapping of minister’s PA: 7 more suspects picked up

COIMBATORE: The Tirupur police made further headway in the kidnap of personal assistant of animal husbandry minister by nabbing seven more suspects on Friday.
With this, nine people have been secured in connection with the case. However, police are yet to arrest any of them. The suspects are being interrogated at an undisclosed location, police sources said.
M Karnan, assistant of Udumalai Radhakrishnan, was kidnapped by a five-member gang from the MLA’s office in Udumalpet on Wednesday, but was abandoned after two hours.Karnan said he was kidnapped due to political rivalry and said the gang snatched his gold chain, ring and mobile phone. Police rounded up two suspects within 24 hours and based on the information they provided, secured seven more.
Senior police officers were tight-lipped about the developments, maintaining that they would disclose details once the interrogation is over. “We are progressing in the right direction,” said an officer.
According to police sources in Tirupur, though the motive for the kidnap is under interrogation, it has emerged that the kidnappers were known to Karnan. “The suspects were all familiar with each other for years. Karnan also knew them since they were from the same locality. One of the suspects was also close to AIADMK functionaries in Udumalpet,” said an officer.
Police said that three were from Pudukottai district working in Udumalpet and were friends of the remaining suspects, who were from Udumalpet.
Meanwhile, Udumalai Radhakrishnan reached Udumalpet from Chennai on Friday.