The public on Sunday rescued the 19-year-old girl who was kidnapped by a man posing as a cop.
According to the police, the unknown culprit had picked up Kalaivani, a resident of Mettupalayam, on his two-wheeler from Palladam. She was, however, rescued by the public and sent home.
Kalaivani had eloped with her boyfriend Raja, 29, an electrician and a native of Karur district, on Sunday. The couple had planned to get married on Tuesday, Valentine’s Day.
While riding to Karur, they had stopped by a roadside temple when the culprit, who claimed to be a police officer, started questioning them and picked up the girl, asking Raja to come to the Palladam police station.
Mr Raja realised that his girlfriend had been kidnapped only after he reached the police station. Based on his complaint, the police had registered a case of abduction and had launched a search for the girl.
“Meanwhile, some members of the public, who saw the girl weeping while riding pillion with the culprit, raised an alarm. Following this the accused left the girl midway on Palladam road out of fear and sped away,” the police said.
However, Kalaivani did not have any money as the culprit had taken away her money and cell phone. Locals helped her with money for bus fare to Mettupalayam. “Based on information provided by Kalaivani, we have launched a search for the culprit,” said the police.