Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Feb 5: A special police team under the leadership of circle police inspector T D Nagaraj has succeeded in arresting a notorious gang that has been indulging in serial thefts at various places in the district. The police team led by SI Avinash has arrested Surabhi Bar theft accused, Arkula, Valachil resident Ammi alias Amaruddin, Mangaluru and Kannur residents Mohammed Younus and Hafiz alias Appi.

Valuables worth Rs 4.8 lac have recovered from the accused. Police have also confiscated an Avenger bike, a mobile phone, a DVR set-top box and approximately Rs 35,000 from the men.

The team under the leadership of Vittal SI Vinod Reddy has arrested Sajipamooda village, Perva resident Farooq alias Ummar Farooq alias Kalla Farooq (27) and Mangaluru, Bengre resident Mohammed Safwan alias Sarath alias Karoo (19). The police have confiscated 14 live bullets, two bikes, three DVRs, a monitor and a broadband OLT box. The police team has cracked nine cases of thefts by arresting the gang.

Farooq and Safwan had colluded with Adyar Kannur resident Appi alias Rafeez alias Hafeez (20) and broke into Mani bar in Vittal on January 25. The gang also attempted robberies at Neralakatte’s Sanna Jewellery, broke into Laxmi Fuel Petrol Bunk belonging to KS Mohan, Urimajalu and stole electronic gadgets and live bullets.

The police team on definite information intercepted the bike approaching from Mudipu near Kolake Nadiguthu bus stand, Bantwal Sajipamooda village and questioned Safwan on the bike when a box with live bullets was found in his pocket. He confessed to different crimes after detailed investigations.

All the suspects arrested belonged to Mangaluru rural police station limits and Bantwal rural police station limits. A DVR in each of the police station limits, live bullets, monitor, broadband OLT box and a bike from Manjeshwar has been found during the investigation.

The operation was conducted under the leadership of police circle inspector T D Nagaraj by Bantwal town SI Avinash, Vittal station sub-inspector Vinod Reddy, staff Jayakumar, Prasanna, Jayarama, Lokesh, Pratap, Vinayaka, Hemaraj, Praveen Kumar, Vivek, Goni Basappa, computer department’s Diwakar and Sampath under guidance from Bantwal DySP Valentine D’Souza.

Special meeting in Bantwal:

As serial thefts had increased in Bantwal, Vittal, Uppinangady and Puttur, police circle inspector T D Nagaraj had called a special meeting. A blueprint for the arrest of those who were suspected to be involved in serial thefts was prepared in the meeting. Sub inspectors of various police stations, Avinash, Prasanna, Vinod Reddy, Sanjiv, Kalaimar, Irayya were part of the team.

Farooq is accused of taking part in bank dacoity. He has four cases in Bantwal rural police station, four in Bantwal town, one in Uppinangady, one in Vittal pending against him. He has nearly 31 cases registered against him in Kadaba, Konaje, Bantwal rural police station, Ullal, Mangaluru rural police station and Bajpe. Safwan has altogether eight cases including a case each pending in Panambur, Bunder, Mangaluru and Vittal.

The details of the cases are:

Bantwal town police station – Serial No, 6/2021 theft at Surabhi Bar

Bantwal town police station – Serial No. 30/2020 Narikombu temple cash box theft

Bantwal town police station – Serial No. 36/2020 Melcar College theft

Vittal station - Serial No. 112/2021 theft at Urimajalu ERSS Petrol bunk

Bantwal town police station – Serial No. 47/2020 Amtoor Church theft

Bantwal town station – Serial No. 5/2021 Chandika temple theft

Bantwal rural station – Serial No. 1/2020 School theft

Bantwal rural station – Serial No. 26/20 Shamboor school theft

Bantwal rural station – Serial No. 16/2021 Perla Church theft

Bantwal rural station – Serial No. 17/2021 Rajesh Bar theft

Mangaluru rural station – Serial No. 5/2021 Pulsar bike theft

Uppinangady police station - Serial No. 119/2020 Ullas Bar theft

Kerala state Manjeshwar police station limits – Pulsar bike theft