Mangalore: Illegal possession of firearm - Bannanje Raja’s henchman arrested

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 17: Sooryakumar alias Soori (35), said to be an accomplice of underworld fugitive, Bannanje Raja, was arrested by the police on Saturday February 15. Soori has been accused of possessing arms illegally. The police said they recovered a pistol from his possession.

File photo of Bannanje Raja

It is learnt that the accused, a native of Suntikoppa near Madikeri, has been living in a house near Manki Stand in the city since over a decade. Soori was produced in a court on Sunday. He reportedly confessed that a lady living in Manipal had given him this firearm under instructions from Achangi Mahesh and Santu, presently lodged in Mysore jail.

Soori, who had been jailed for his role in murder attempt and theft cases, had recently been released from jail.

Acting on reliable information, police personnel of city crime branch and Pandeshwar station conducted a joint operation to nab the culprit from near the Manki Stand in Pandeshwar, based on tip off that a person holding a pistol, had been sighted in the region. The raiding team was led by police inspector, Dinkar Shetty, and CCB inspector, Valentine D’Souza.

Soori, who was accused in the murder of Vasudeva Shenoy, who was living alone in an apartment opposite PVS Kala Kunj in the city, a theft case, and for causing disturbance inside the jail, was released from jail about a month back.