Ankola shootout: Four more in police custody, KCOCA invoked against accused
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Jan 25: The police have arrested two persons from Kerala and taken custody of another two from Mysore jail in connection with the shootout at Ankola on December 21, 2013 in which BJP leader, businessman and Dwaraka cooperative society chairman R N Naik was killed along with his bodyguard.
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday January 25, IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy said that altogether nine persons are accused in the case, including mastermind underworld don Bannanje Raja.
The shootout was carried out by four assailants. One was caught at the time of the incident, another died in the shootout and two were arrested earlier this month.
Now, the police have nabbed two from Kerala, identified as Ismail from Palghat and Rabdin who hails from Tamil Nadu. They have been arrested for abetting the crime.
Besides, the police have also taken custody of Achangi Mahesh and Sullia Santhosh who were lodged in Mysore jail.
During the shootout on December 21, one of the assailants, later identified as Akash alias Viveka Kumara Upadyaya (27) from Varanasi was killed. Another shooter who tried to escape, identified as Jagadish alias Satish Patel, also from Varanasi, was caught by the public.
On January 11, the police had arrested Ganesh alias Manjunath alias Laxman Bhajantri (29), a resident of Eidu village, Karkala, and Abhi alias Ambaji (35), a resident of M S Ramaiya Nagar, Jaladarshini Layout, Bangalore.
IGP Reddy said the plot to kill Naik was hatched last year in Mysore jail where Akash was lodged until June 2013. Four pistols were recovered, of which two were found at the spot and two with Bhajantri.
Following the shootout, the accused had been visiting various places like Mangalore, Shimoga, Bangalore, Palghat, Tirupati, Varanasi and Kottayam. A special police team under western range was formed to nab them, the IGP said.
KCOCA invoked for first time
For the first time, the police have invoked the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) 2000 against nine accused in the case. The police have been given custody of the accused for 15 days from the special KCOCA court at Belgaum. The section 3 of the Act deals with punishment for organised crimes (imprisonment for life or not less than a jail term of five years), under which they have been booked, he added.
The accused have also been booked under sections 302, 307, 353, 212, 120B and 149 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3, 25, 27 and 27 C under the Arms Act.
The IGP further said that during interrogation, it came to light that Akash, who died in the firing, had received Rs 2 lac to carry out the crime. Money was also paid to Ambaji and Ganesh. Except for Jagadish, all the accused have been involved in two or more criminal cases, he added.
Regarding Bannanje Raja who is absconding, Reddy said that a red corner notice has been issued and police are putting in all efforts to nab him. Last year, R N Naik had filed a complaint with Ankola police that he had received threats from Raja, he said.