CHENNAI: A 25-year-old man from Assam, was arrested on the charge of attempting to sell a teenage boy, here on Friday. The teen was rescued after a tip off from an auto driver.
Police said Moinul (25) of Guwahati had got his neighbour Manik (18) a job at a tea shop back in Assam. But, the latter registered a complaint against him over poor wages. However, Moinul convinced the boy’s parents to withdraw the complaint, promising to place the teenager in a better place in Tamil Nadu. He first found Manik a job at a timber shop in Tiruchy six months ago, but the teen again complained of meagre wages. According to police, Moinul was irked by the police complaint and decided to exact vengeance, and brought Manik to Chennai.
After reaching here, Moinul made him wait inside CMBT at Koyambedu and went out looking for prospective buyers. Police said he negotiated with a tea shop owner nearby, but could not get Rs 3 lakh that he wanted.
In a last ditch effort, Moinul approached the auto-rickshaw and taxi stands, and offered commission to anyone who could find a buyer willing to pay Rs 3 lakh for the boy. Some of the drivers there noted down his number, and an auto driver among them, Dinesh, alerted the local police. Police officials called Moinul pretending to be prospective buyers, and asked him to wait near the auto stand. A team of plain clothesmen offered Rs 3.50 lakh. To gain his trust, they showed him Rs 50,000 advance money.
Moinul readily agreed and fetched the teen from the bus stand and handed him over to the cops in disguise. The personnel immediately disclosed their identity and took both Moinul and Manik in their custody. Manik told the police that he was under the impression that Moinul was looking for a job for him using his contacts and had no clue about his intentions.