Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Jul 22: The policemen of the district crime intelligence bureau (DCIB) had arrested two men from a lodge in the town on Tuesday July 20. On Wednesday, they were remanded to 15 days judicial custody. The arrests were made by a team led by assistant sub-inspector of police, Narayan Maniyani and other personnel. The raid was kept a guarded secret, and people did not come to know of it.

Two men had initially booked a room in the lodge at around 11 am on Tuesday, claiming that they wanted to refresh themselves before proceeding to Bangalore. After a third man came in later, the lodge employees had asked them to book another room. The arrival of a fourth person thereof, was explained by the accused by claiming him to be their driver. The gang reportedly was acting at the behest of a prisoner named Yousuf Khan, presently lodged in Gulbarga jail.

The arrested persons, identified as Aslam alias Aslam Guttal (35) from Haveri, and Javed Khan (32), resident of Kyatamaranahalli in Mysore, reportedly are henchmen of dreaded underworld fugitive, Chota Shakil. The policemen said that the leader of this gang, Basha alias Abdullah, and a person who served them as driver, who had gone out of their room for some reason at the time of the raid, succeeded in giving them a slip. A sword, two knives and Rs 1,44,500 in cash, were recovered from the possession of the arrested persons.

The policemen kept close vigil on the movements of the inmates of the lodge, after gathering information that they were collecting information about the movements of a youth leader from the district. They suspect that the gang wanted to vitiate the present peaceful atmosphere of the district by eliminating leaders of some organizations.

While Javed is the prime accused in a criminal case in Bangalore, Aslam faces several cases including four attempt to murder cases, a few more regarding possessing illegal arms etc.