Bomb extortion gone awry: Rowdies injure selves in Puducherry; one arrested

PUDUCHERRY: Two rowdies, who attempted to extort money from an industrialist by threatening to hurl a country bomb at him, suffered severe injuries after the bomb accidentally fell near them in Puducherry on Friday. The industrialist, who was near them, was also injured in the explosion and was admitted to a hospital.

The two rowdies managed to escape with the injuries. Police managed to trace and arrest one of them. He was identified as Sugan alias Pradeep, 32 from Tsunami Quarters, Kalapet, Puducherry. The other accused, 28-year-old Sarath from Chennai, remains at large.

Superintendent of police said Sugan was pressuring the industrialist to secure a contract in his name in the small-scale industry for a permanent monthly income. Sugan was also demanding that the industrialist pay ₹4.5 lakh to continue his business activities in the region. The industrialist, however, refused to give in to his threats. Enraged Sugan and along with his aide Sarath approached the industrialist on Friday and threatened him, holding a country bomb in his hand. In the melee, Sarath dropped the bomb before hurling it and it exploded, injuring the two rowdies and the industrialist. The two injured rowdies escaped but police managed to trace Sugan and arrest him.