Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 25: Station house officer of Padubidri police station, Mahadeva Setti, and his personnel, have taken into custody three persons, who were planning to set a house in Padubidri on fire. It is said that the threesome had come to Padubidri with the specific plan of torching the house of a local named Mohammed.

The arrested men have been identified as Liaqat Ali Khan (35) from Bhadravati, Manjunath (23) from Bhadravati, and A K Manjunath (26), from Shimoga. They were taken into custody from near Gurudev Talkies in Padubidri on Thursday February 23 night.

During their routine patrolling, the policemen saw the three persons loitering suspiciously near Gurudev Talkies. When they were questioned, the three fumbled in explaining the purpose of their presence there. After they were taken to the police station and questioned indetail, they revealed that they had planned to burn down car and house owned by Mohammed.

The three said that Liaqat Ali’s wife had visited Mohammed seeking a loan in the past. An incident which occurred during her visit had angered Liaqat, who drew the help of his two friends to teach Mohammed a lesson.

The police said their plan, if executed, would have given rise to catastrophic results, as a number of houses and a godown stocking LPG cylinders are located around Mohammed’s house. All the three face several cases in various police stations in Shimoga district, it is gathered. The policemen said that they have recovered petrol can and ropes from the arrested persons.