Bid to kidnap woman from rescue home in Kochi

KOCHI: The attempt of  the relatives of  a woman to abduct her from a rescue home in the city was foiled by the police on Saturday. The north police arrested nine persons, including the father and the mother of the 26-year-old woman, in this connection.

The arrested were  identified as Manoharan and  Sheela,  the woman’s  parents,  and  Vishnu, Sujith, Dhanesh Kumar, Manjul, Rinesh, Swaraj and Amjuthan. Manoharan and family belong to Balusserry in Kozhikode district.

The  incident took place at Shanthiniekethan, a shelter home at Samajam road at  Vaduthala,  in the afternoon. The accused, after reaching the home, dragged the woman into their vehicle foiling the  staff’s attempt tkido prevent the abduction.

The staff immediately informed the police and a team from the north police station intercepted the vehicle near the Varappuzha bridge with the help of the local police after chasing it for  nearly half an hour.                      

The accused intended to take the woman to one of their relatives’ home in Kozhikode.

The woman had  been lodged at Shantinikethan for over a month on the orders of the Kerala High Court after   a habeas corpus petition was filed by her lover.

The girl was  undergoing counselling and the  parents used to visit her during the sessions. The hostel authorities allowed the parents to enter the premise on the basis of their previous visits.