Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 17: A team of policemen led by district crime intelligence bureau circle police inspector, Ganesh Hegde, arrested two of the eight accused, who had abducted a person and released him after collecting ransom. They were arrested at the local railway station on Monday January 16, as soon as they arrived there to board a Mumbai-bound train. Gold ornaments valued at around four lac rupees and the Scorpio vehicle used for the abduction, were confiscated from the possession of the accused.

Eight persons had abducted Arif from Mallar Chandranagar in Kaup some time back, held him captive, demanded ransom, and released him only after collecting gold ornaments.

Arif, employed in Mascat, has the habit of fishing whenever he visits home. Ummer, a neighbour, who was aware of this habit, contacted his friends, Sikander and Sulaiman, and hatched a plan. After hiring a Scorpio vehicle from Kaup, they, along with some other accomplices, hired Mohammed Rafiq from Banglegudde Karkala as driver. On July 1, they made the Scorpio hit the Scooty that was being driven by Arif towards the spot where he usually fishes, took him after he fell down, to a deserted spot near the Dargah in Nagar, Shimoga district, and pestered him for gold. They also tortured him there. After Arif contacted his wife over phone and asked her to deliver the gold ornaments as demanded, he was brought to Udupi on July 2, and released in exchange for gold ornaments.

After one of them, Sulaiman, was murdered, they developed cold feet, and were making efforts to flee to Mumbai. In the meanwhile, Rafiq and and Mohammed Ansar (22) from Karkala were arrested by the police.

The other accused, Farooq from Karkala Banglegudde, Ashraf from Bailoor, Basruddin and Sikander from Kabettu, and Ummer from Kaup Chandranagar, are absconding. Farooq is also an accused in the murder of Candle Santu. Ummer has been charged with thefts within the jurisdiction of Karkala, Shirva, and Kaup police stations.