Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Oct 4: Iqbal (40) from Yennehole in the taluk, and Idma Ibrahim from Ganjimutt, were handed over to police custody on Monday October 3. The two face charges of stealing a number of tippers in connivance of some others, and creating fake records to facilitate their sale.

The above persons were arrested on September 28 and October 1 respectively. The policemen said that the two used to steal a number of tippers in the state over the last two years, and sell them by creating fake registration certificates (RC). The RCs were either prepared due to the negligence of the regional transport office officials from Tumkur, Bellary, Mysore etc or with their tacit support, it is felt. For adding a touch of genuineness to the transactions, they also used to punch engine and chassis number afresh.

In some cases, they also filed false complaints of tipper thefts for facilitating insurance claims, it is said. The policemen suspect active role of Habib from Adoor, Satish from Karkala, as well as Bhaskar and Harish from Moodbidri in this racket. These accused have gone missing. To extract extensive details about the number of tippers so stolen and involvement of other people, police custody was sought.

The policemen, who have seized 11 such tippers, feel that 20 more have been stolen and sold by the gang in the above manner.