Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 16: In a shocking incident that came to light late, a gold trader from Kerala was kidnapped from Mangaluru and robbed of around 350 grams of gold worth nearly Rs 35 lac. The victim, identified as Srihari, a resident of Kerala and owner of a jewellery shop, lodged a complaint with the police after being released by the gang.

On Wednesday morning around 7 am, Srihari arrived at Mangaluru Central Railway Station by train from Kerala, carrying a 350-gram gold bar. After leaving the station, while waiting near Kairali Hotel for an auto-rickshaw, a group arrived in an Innova car. Claiming to be customs officials, they ordered him to sit inside the vehicle for inspection.

When Srihari resisted, he was forcibly pushed into the car. The gang then drove him through Udupi towards Kumta–Sirsi, where they robbed him of the gold bar valued at Rs 35 lac. Later, they abandoned him at Antravalli village in Sirsi before fleeing the scene. Shocked, the trader managed to return to Mangaluru and lodged a complaint at Pandeshwar police station.

The Pandeshwar police, who have taken up the investigation, reportedly secured strong evidence about the gang involved and are confident of nabbing the culprits soon.

Police suspect that individuals familiar with Srihari’s business dealings and movements may be behind the crime. Investigations in this direction are underway.

The robbers used a BH registration vehicle for the crime, raising further suspicion. BH registration (Bharat Series) is a system introduced by the government of India to allow vehicle owners to move between states without re-registration hassles. Such vehicles can easily be traced nationwide. Normally, central and state government employees or businesses with offices across states are eligible for BH registration.

Police are probing whether the number plate was genuine or fake and who the actual owner of the car is. Efforts are on to identify the culprits and bring them to justice.