M'lore, Udupi Shootouts: Police Arrest Four Bannanje Raja Aides, Three Others
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Aug 25: Seven persons, including four associates of underworld don Bannanje Raja who attempted to shoot Suresh Bhandary of Prathvi builders this May and a cashier of Airody Jewellers, Udupi, were arrested by the Mangalore special police squad on Thursday August 25.

The other three were arrested for supplying pistol. The police also seized two pistols, one revolver, 11 bullets and two vehicles amounting to Rs 4.50 lac from the arrested, informed police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, while addressing reporters at his office on Thursday August 25.
 

On May 26 this year two persons came by bike and attempted to kill Suresh Bhandary who was in his car. However, they escaped and a case was registered in Mangalore East Police Station.
 
Earlier this month, on August 19, a person opened three rounds of gunfire at Airody Jewellers in Udupi, and also attempted to shoot the watchman who tried to stop him. A case was registered in Udupi city police station.
 
To trace these crimes, city police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh formed a special police team with the help of DYSPs Mutthuraya and D Dharmaiah and inspector Vinay Gaonkar.
 
On Thursday at around 11 am, the team got information that Bannanje Raja's associated had come near Kottara Chowki to collect hafta, and immediately swung into action. They raided the spot and arrested Devudas Shetty (44) of Kottara Chowki, Neeraj Shreevastav (25), of Ghorakpura, UP, Ali Hussain (22) of Ghorakpura, Vinod Kulal (29) of Jalligudde.
 
Amith Chowrasiya (27) of Bihar, Rehejkhan (41) of Bihar and Puttaswamy (44) of Gokulam Mysore were also arrested for supplying them pistols. They were arrested with one pistol, 5 bullets and an Indica car.

The source of weapons is yet to be asertained, but police suspect that some local people also helped them. The seized weapons were sophisticated but countrymade.

A case has been registered in Kavoor station and investigations are on.
 
State intelligence squad also extended their co-operation to the police team.