Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jul 6: Police have announced a reward for anyone providing credible information leading to the arrest of the accused involved in the robbery of a gold trader in Mangaluru. As part of the investigation, the police have released photographs of the absconding suspects and appealed to the public for assistance.
The robbery, which took place near Baikampady in the early hours of June 29, had created a stir in the city. With the key accused still at large, Mangaluru police have now intensified efforts to trace them by releasing their photographs.
The victim, identified as Vikas, a gold trader from Maharashtra, was travelling in a car when the gang intercepted the vehicle and robbed him of 180 grams of gold and other valuables worth around Rs 23 lac.
According to the police, the alleged mastermind behind the robbery is Shibin Gangadharan, a native of Puducherry. His photograph, along with those of the other accused, has been released.
The police have identified and released the names and photographs of 13 key accused: Sreerag, Atul, Mithun Lal, Azeer Tharayil, Vaishakh, Aseer Payyanur, Pranav, Vigil, Ubaid (Kodagu), Firoz, Moydu Abbas, Ziyad, and Zameer Alika.
Mangaluru police have appealed to the public to immediately inform the police if they have any information regarding the whereabouts of the accused. They assured that the identity of informants will be kept confidential and that suitable rewards will be given for credible information. Posters carrying the photographs of the accused are being circulated in Karnataka and Kerala and will be displayed at public places.
Earlier, Panambur police had arrested three persons for allegedly assisting the robbers. The arrested accused have been identified as Nimil from Kerala, and Irshad and Mustafa, both from Madikeri. They are currently being interrogated.
Police are coordinating with their counterparts in Kerala to trace and arrest the absconding accused. Investigators believe the robbery was carried out by an organised gang, making public cooperation crucial to solving the case.
The police have urged members of the public to immediately call 100 or inform the nearest police station if they spot any of the accused. They reiterated that the identity of those providing information will remain confidential and that rewards will be offered.
The robbery has caused considerable concern in Mangaluru, and police have intensified the investigation. Officials expressed confidence that the accused would be arrested soon with the support of the public.