Surat: Nine crime branch policemen from the Union Territory of Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli were arrested for allegedly kidnapping three tourists from Surat district and extorting Rs 7 lakh from them. The accused had initially demanded Rs 25 lakh, threatening to file a police complaint for carrying liquor in the car, and later agreed to release the victims for Rs 10 lakh.

The complainant, Aajessh Patel, a farmer from Mota village near Bardoli, along with friends Hardik Patel and Pinakin Patel, had gone to Daman on Monday for leisure. While heading to a farm with boxes of beer, their car was stopped by the accused, who claimed to be police personnel and took the tourists to Daman police headquarters, where they were allegedly threatened, slapped, and beaten.

After negotiations, a ransom of Rs 10 lakh was agreed upon. Aajessh’s friends later arrived with Rs 7 lakh in cash and promised to pay the remaining Rs 3 lakh. One friend then alerted local police, who registered the complaint and launched an investigation.

The accused — sub-inspector Dhanji Dubariya and junior officers Ankush Singh, Jatin Patel, Vikash Rajput, Ramdevsinh Jadeja, Vishal Mir, Krishnavijay Gohil, Chintan Desai, and Dilip Gavit — were identified by the complainant. Police have registered offences under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 140(2), 308(7), and 3(5). Senior officials said further action will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation. DeshGujarat