Mangalore: Alleged Plots to Kidnap Businessmen - Police Arrest Six
 
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore (RS/SB)
 
Managalore, Nov 22: Special police squad of superintendent of police arrested six persons for allegedly plotting to kidnap businessmen, NRIs and builders to extort money under directions by gulf-based anti social element Rakesh alias Althaf, said Gopal B Hosur, inspector general of police (western range) on Sunday November 22.  
 
Addressing presspersons IGP Gopal Hosur on Sunday November 23 said that the arrest has been a major milestone as far as the operations against the underground and anti-social elements by the district police are concerned. The arrested persons had planned to extort money from several businessmen leading to greater damage to the civil society, he added.

The arrested are Harish K M (38), B S Ashoka (34) Bopanna (20) A P Jagadeesh (24), residents of Kunjila village in Coorg district, Bopanna (25) and Rajesh (20), residents of Yevakapadi village in Coorg district. These were arrested near Shanthipalke under Mulki police station limits as they were waiting for the NRI business man to extort money. They had also planned to shoot him down if he refused to co-operate. They had rented a Scorpio to execute the plan, he added.

They had also planned to kidnap an NRI businessman, who had visited the city and participated in a function TMA Pai convention hall, recently. However the gang failed to execute the plan as there was a huge gathering at the venue. Further, in June, 2009, this gang planned to kidnap a builder named Mahesh from Bangalore, owner of Renown Hotels and Resorts, but again did not materialize as he cancelled his visit to Vijayanagar in Mysore, where the gang was waiting to execute its plan, said IGP adding that these plots were hatched under the directions of Rakesh alias Althaf.
 
The key accused Rakesh alias Althaf is involved in nearly 25 cases of kidnap and threatening people for hafta, while Harish K M is accused in a case under illegal weapons act registered at cotton pet police station in Bangalore, he said. Further detailed investigation is on to trace the other offences of all the accused, he said.
 
Necessary arrangements will be made to arrest gulf-based Rakesh alias Althaf, who escaped abroad after he was granted a bail in one of the cases.
 
A country-made gun (nada kovi), four bullets, Scorpio and four mobile phones were seized from the accused. Mulky Police will conduct the further investigations.
 
In-charge superintendent of police Ramesh and deputy superintendent of police Girish S were present.