Goshamahal police have arrested five persons for allegedly confining and assaulting two dry fruit traders and demanding ₹2 lakh and the surrender of a car and an auto for their release in Begum Bazar.

The arrested persons were identified as Karan Kumar, Hanuman Ram, Devi Lal, Shambhu Kumar and Jumar alias Jumar Gujjar. Police said six other accused persons, including Shubham Parihar, Tharun, Manish, Praveen, Pankaj and Datta, were absconding and efforts were on to apprehend them.

According to the police, the complainant, Mohd Akbar, and his brother Mohd Aleem had been procuring dry fruits from Vinod Impex in Begum Bazar for about two years. Police said the two were accused of financial irregularities involving about ₹8 lakh, allegedly by forging the firm’s stamp, over the past three months.

On August 20, Karan Kumar, the owner of Vinod Impex, and his associates allegedly confined the brothers inside a godown, assaulted them with their hands and steel pipes, tied their hands and threatened to circulate videos of them on social media, police said.

Their parents were also allegedly called to the godown, confined and abused, according to the complaint. The accused allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh and the surrender of one car and one auto for releasing them. The alleged confinement and assault continued until the early hours of August 21.

The parties were subsequently taken to Goshamahal police station, where Akbar and Aleem reportedly informed the police about the assault and confinement. They were sent to Osmania General Hospital for medical examination and treatment in view of their injuries.

Police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to kidnapping for ransom, hurt, criminal intimidation and other offences.

On August 22, police received information that Karan Kumar and Hanuman Ram were at the former’s residence, while Devi Lal, Shambhu Kumar and Jumar were near the Fish Market in Begum Bazar. Police teams reached the locations and apprehended the five men.

The accused were arrested and produced before the XVI ACJM court before being remanded, police said. A Swift Dzire, an Indica car, an auto and two mobile phones were seized during the investigation.

Police said efforts were under way to apprehend the remaining accused.