Two Arrested for Abducting, Torturing Youth Over Alleged Drug Deal in Kerala

Two persons were arrested for allegedly abducting and brutally assaulting a youth in connection with a suspected drug deal in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, police said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Shihab and Ashwin , both natives of Kozhikode, were taken into custody after police rescued the victim, Muhammad Sajid , a resident of Mananthavady, from a rented house in Thamarassery.

According to investigators, the case is linked to an alleged drug procurement deal involving a group that had travelled to Bengaluru earlier this month. Police said Sajid had allegedly acted as a middleman in the transaction. Shihab reportedly paid around ₹1.5 lakh on May 3 to procure narcotic substances, but neither the drugs nor the money were later delivered.

Police alleged that following the failed deal, Shihab and three associates abducted Sajid from Thamarassery late on May 5 and confined him inside a rented house. During the confinement, Sajid was allegedly subjected to severe physical torture.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided the house and rescued the victim. A case was subsequently registered on Friday against the accused under charges including abduction and attempt to commit culpable homicide .

While Shihab and Ashwin were arrested, police said efforts are underway to trace the two remaining accused involved in the incident.

The arrested men are expected to be produced before a local court on Saturday for remand proceedings.