A 40-year-old Indian-origin man has been arrested in the United States for allegedly kidnapping and viciously beating a man suspected of shoplifting from his convenience store in Kentucky. According to the New York Post, Kaushalkumar Patel was arrested on Thursday after he and several others allegedly carried out a deranged plot in October 2024, after spotting the customer stealing a box of vape pens from his E-Z Super Food Mart. 

Police said that the accused shoplifter ran away on foot following which Patel and several others chased him down in a van and pepper sprayed him in the face. The man crawled into a yard where he was then allegedly “stomped in the back” by another individual, the outlet reported. 

According to the cops, Patel allegedly “pulled up the victim’s shorts and sprayed his anus with pepper spray” before pulling him into the van. The group then reportedly took the man to a garage near Patel’s convenience store, where they allegedly punched, kicked and struck him with a piece of wood. 

The accused shoplifter, whose identity hasn’t been revealed, was put back into the van and driven to Lee Street where he was dropped off. The victim then called his mother to pick him up. 

The man suffered contusions and bruising, and required stitches in his right shin, as per the Post. 

Patel has been charged with complicity in kidnapping, second-degree assault and wanton endangerment – a legal term that refers to reckless behaviour that creates a substantial risk of serious injury or death to others. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is currently being held at Louisville Metro Detention Center. 

Patel’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 24.

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Notably, the recent incident is just one example of store owners or employees turning to violent methods to combat suspected shoplifters. According to Newsweek, last month, a convenience store owner in North Carolina was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter for killing a man who allegedly stole a bottle of Gatorade.

The same month, a New Orleans store clerk shot and killed 16-year-old Cecil Batiz, who allegedly tried to rob the store at gunpoint. 

The search and rescue operation for an Indian woman who fell into a sinkhole in Malaysia eight days ago has been halted at the site in Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, the fire and rescue department said as per The Straits Times.

However, rescue efforts would continue at the Pantai Dalam IWK sewage plant, the department added.

Findings revealed it was too risky to continue search and rescue using scuba diving methods, the department’s director-general Nor Hisham Mohamad told The Straits Times.

Strong underground water currents, limited space for rescuers and the presence of debris and hard blockages are some of the risk factors that led to the decision, Mr Nor Hisham said, according to state news agency Bernama.

“When we saw the entry point, which was about two feet (60cm) wide, we were really worried that they might get stuck. There was a ‘piston effect’ from the water, making it impossible for them to retreat, which is very dangerous,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

“Besides posing a high risk to scuba divers, there are also obstructions difficult for divers to navigate,” he said.

Indian tourist Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, who frequently travelled to Singapore and Malaysia for business, disappeared after falling into an 8 metre-deep sinkhole on August 23. She was on her way to a temple when the ground suddenly caved in. Her husband and son were able to escape the collapse.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday assured tourists that Kuala Lumpur is safe, adding that any areas considered to be at risk of turning into sinkholes will be dealt with immediately. During a visit to Penang, he told reporters that a geotechnical study had found the cause of the incident.

Monitoring the situation, the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur had explained how the search operation for the woman was being carried out and that it was in touch with the woman’s family members.

“Officers are also in touch with the family members to extend continued support,” it said.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had directed officials from the Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu (APNRT) Society to ensure that the search operations are conducted effectively.