Tamil Nadu: Gang of 5 targeting couples on beaches held

CHENNAI: A gang of five men, which habitually extorted money from young couples frequenting beaches near Mamallapuram, was arrested on Sunday night.
Police identified the arrested as Pradeep, 21; Praveen, 23; Maheshkumar, 22; Mohan, 23, of Kundrathur; and Kumar, 24, of Kattankulathur. Police intercepted the gang near Thiruvidanthai toll gate when they arrived in an autorickshaw.When they were questioned, the gang provided contradictory answers.
Investigations revealed that the gang habitually intercepted couples visiting the beaches. They would threaten to videograph them and upload the same on the internet. On Sunday night, they had come to rob the lovers spending time in secluded areas near Mamallapuram, as it was a weekend.
They have cases of robbery, theft, and murder against them at Otteri police station, snatching money and mobile phones from the victims at knife-point, police said.
The Mamallapuram police registered a case against the gang members and a court remanded them in judicial custody.