Police foil bid to snatch smuggled gold from woman at Karipur

File photo for representational purpose only.

The police foiled an attempt to abduct a woman carrying 817 gm gold worth over ₹1.10 crore at Calicut International Airport, Karipur, on Monday. They also arrested two members of the alleged robbery gang.

According to the police, the incident took place around 3 a.m. A police team noticed a group behaving suspiciously in the arrival area and kept them under watch. The group followed Abhirami, 27, a native of Vandanmedu in Idukki, after she arrived from abroad.

When Abhirami reached the parking area with a man who had come to receive her, the gang blocked their way and grabbed her trolley bag. The police team intervened when the gang tried to overpower the man accompanying her.

During the struggle, the accused attacked the police and bit home guard Murali Krishna. They also tried to run over a member of the police team with a car while escaping. The officer narrowly escaped from being hit.

The police arrested Sayanth, 28, and Babilesh, 40, both from Kallachi, Nadapuram.

Abhirami and Harshal, 40, a native of Kochi who had arrived to collect the gold, were also taken into custody.

The police said the gold had been sent with Abhirami by Swalih, a native of Thamarassery. Around 10 people had reached the airport in two cars to seize the gold and abduct her.

A search of Abhirami’s baggage led to the recovery of 14 gold plates concealed inside an emergency lamp. The gold weighed 817 gm after cleaning and is estimated to be worth more than ₹1.10 crore.

The gold, along with ₹67,000 allegedly kept to pay Abhirami for carrying it, a car and the two people detained in connection with the gold, were handed over to the Customs Department for further action.

The police said the arrested men had been involved in several similar cases. One of them had lost a hand in a blast.