Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)
Karkala, Dec 14: In a late evening operation conducted near the Kings Bar and Restaurant in the town on Sunday December 14, the local policemen confiscated snake venom worth Rs 25 lac, besides arresting six persons and seizing the Maruti Omni vehicle in which the people and the venom were found.
The arrested men have been identified as Navin, Purushottam, Gopal Gowda and Padmaprasad from Beltangady, Sadashiva Acharya from Pulkeri near here and Rajanikant from Kulai, Mangalore.
Based on reliable information, Ramachandra Nayak, sub-inspector of the town police station, with the help of his assistants, was checking vehicles. When a Maruti Omni vehicle moving towards Anantashayana from Moorumarga in the town moved on even after signalling it to stop, the policemen grew suspicious and chased the car. When they stopped the car in front of Kings Bar and Restaurant, they found six persons inside the vehicle and a handbag. When questioned about the bag, none of them provided a satisfactory reply. When they were persuaded to open the bag, the policemen found 600 ml of liquid substance in a plastic bottle used to store mineral water.
The passengers later confessed that it was snake venom, worth Rs 25 lac in the black market. All the six men were arrested, the vehicle and the snake venom they were carrying, were seized.
The local policemen have registered a case. The accused are being produced in the court today.