Udupi: Ankola shootout - Police arrest two, modus operandi revealed
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jan 12: The police on Saturday January 11 arrested two persons in connection with the shootout at Ankola on December 21, 2013 wherein BJP leader, businessman and Dwaraka cooperative society chairman R N Naik was killed along with a bodyguard.
Addressing a press meet here on Sunday January 12, IGP Pratap Reddy said that the arrested are Ganesh alias Manjunath alias Laxman Bhajantri (29), a resident of Eidu village, Karkala, and Abhi alias Ambaji (35) resident of M S Ramaiya Nagar, Jaladarshini Layout, Bangalore.
The shootout was carried out by four assailants. One was caught at the time of the incident, another died in the shootout, and the remaining two have now been arrested.
Elaborating on the incident, the IGP said, "On December 21, 2013, Rama Chandra Narayana Naik alias R N Naik, a businessman and also the chairman of Dwaraka cooperative society, left his bank at around 1.30 pm for his lunch break. He was in his car at that point in time and just when he was about to leave, one unknown assailant, who came from behind his vehicle, fired at him. R N Naik was also provided with a bodyguard from the Karwar police, as he had received threat calls previously, and this bodyguard was also present with him. The bodyguard, Ramesh Gowda, DAR Karwar, retaliated immediately by firing at the assailant. R N Naik who was shot at by the assailant was shifted to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. The assailant, unknown at that point of time, was also declared brought dead.
"At that point of time, it was noticed that three other unknown persons, taking advantage of the melee that ensued, were trying to flee away. The public who had already gathered there caught hold of one of the assailants, who was later identified as Jagadish alias Satish Patel from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Through him, the identity of the unknown deceased assailant was revealed as Akash alias Viveka Kumara Upadyaya (27), also from Varanasi.
"During the course of the investigation, it was found that the Maruti Omni car that was used for this operation, bearing registration no CTH 7767, was purchased in Mysore by one of the accused who identified himself as Laxman Bhajantri.
"Later, special teams were formed immediately and using technical and scientific inputs as a base, the investigations moved ahead. Later two other accused, who escaped from the spot were identified as Ganesh alias Manjunath alias Laxman Bhajantri and Abhi alias Ambaji. Both of the accused were arrested on January 11 and on subsequent investigation the modus operandi of the whole incident was revealed."
Modus operandi: Bannanje Raja kingpin
The IGP further explained, "The planning for this attack happened in the month of May/June 2013 in Mysore jail. The deceased accused, Akash, who was released from Mysore Jail in June 2013, received money from an unknown person and purchased four pistols and 45 rounds of ammunition from Uttar Pradesh and got it to Bangalore in two visits. This weapon and the above mentioned three other members were part of this operation to kill R N Naik in Ankola.
"The conspiracy for the whole operation was hatched in Mysore Jail by one Achchingi Mahesh and Santosh alias Suliya Santhu and Akash alias Vivek Kumar Upadaya, when they were together in the jail, for various other offences committed by them. Further investigations are on to identify and arrest the other members who are also part of this conspiracy. The accused have further revealed Bannanje Raja as the main kingpin for the whole operation. Also, it was found that these arrested accused were also in the process of planning three more similar operations in the state of Kerala and Karnataka. After their arrest now by the Karnataka police, their plans have been foiled," he said.
Investigations were led by SP, Karwar; additional SP, Karwar and other police personnel from western range. Other district police officers from Bangalore, Mysore, Varanasi, STF Uttar Pradesh and also Kerala state police cooperated in this investigation.
DG and IG, Karnataka state police; ADGP (law and order), Karnataka state police, IGP (western range) have congratulated the police teams on their successful investigation.