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Five persons were arrested for kidnapping a youth in Salem on Tuesday (October 20, 2026).

According to the police, M. Akishkumar (18), a resident of Pappanaickampatti, is working as a cleaner. He was reportedly in a relationship with a girl residing at Vellalapatti and communicated with her over the phone. Learning about this, the girl’s relative R. Venkatesh (35), a resident of Athanurpatti, who runs a kabaddi training academy, along with his accomplice, kidnapped Akishkumar after attacking his friend Muraleeswaran on Monday (October 19, 2026).

The gang took him to a secluded place and attacked him. When Akishkumar’s mother came to know about the incident, she lodged a complaint with the Vazhapadi police and, on Monday around 11 p.m., the gang left him close to a temple near Pethanaickenpalayam.

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