The Bantwal police have arrested eight persons, including a woman, who were involved in blackmailing people by honey-trapping.

The accused Zarina (27) met Abdul Rasheed, a resident of Bantwal, and asked him to drop her at Ujire on July 27, said SP Sharanappa S.D.

Abdul Rasheed and his relative Mohammed Harris, an autorickshaw driver, met Zarina and while proceeding to Ujire, seven men waylaid the autorickshaw.

They took photographs of the two with Zarina, which they threatened to circulate if the men failed to pay Rs. 10 lakh. The accused released the two after locking them up for a few hours after taking away their autorickshaw, Rs. 4,500, two mobile phones and Rasheed’s passport.

Following a complaint, police team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Rahul Kumar traced the accused and arrested them. Apart from Zarina, the police have arrested Mohammed Asif (25), Abdul Lateef (36), Sabeer (25), Aboobacker Siddiq (21), Sulaiman (35), Abdul Majeed (22) and Haseem (25).