Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod
Kasargod, Jun 22: In a major operation, the Kasargod police have arrested an underworld element and former aide of notorious don Dawood Ibrahim.
Abdul Hameed, alias Puttu (40), a resident of Paivalike, Uppala here, was arrested on the night of Saturday June 21 in Manjeshwar.
As per police sources, Puttu was working under Dawood Ibrahim in the late 80s and early 90s, until the Mumbai blasts in 1993. After Dawood went into hiding, Puttu went on to do his own business, but continued to indulge in underworld activities.
Four years ago, Puttu was arrested in connection with the counterfeit currency case wherein Rs 25 lac worth of fake notes smuggled from Dubai were intercepted at Bangalore Airport. His cousin, Mohammed Hanif, who was recently arrested by the Mangalore city crime branch police, was also involved in the case. In fact, it was Hanif's revelation to the police that led to Puttu's arrest.
Puttu was then lodged in Parappana Agrahara jail in Bangalore for two years. Nevertheless, even while being jailed, he was actively plotting criminal activities and was in constant touch with underworld dons Ravi Poojary and Kali Yogish, and executing his plans through Hanif.
Puttu had also plotted the attempt on the life of Bevinje PWD contractor and businessman M T Mohammed in 2010 and 2013. It is said that back in 1989, Dawood Ibrahim had sent a consignment of gold worth Rs 50 crore through his associate Hamza, a bus owner, who was killed later by the underworld in a shootout.
Puttu reportedly received wrong information that before dying, Hamza had handed over the money made from the gold to M T Mohammed Kunhi, and therefore began issuing him threats through Hanif and others in the name of Dawood Ibrahim. Puttu demanded Rs 50 crore from Mohammed Kunhi, but when he refused to pay, attempts on his life, plotted by Puttu, were made twice in 2010 and 2013.
Moreover, in 2011, Puttu, through Hanif and others, had executed a plot to kill Congress leader Prabhakar Chowta of Manjeshwar, on the directions of Ravi Poojary and Kali Yogish.
Puttu had later gone into hiding, and was arrested based on the information divulged by Hanif, after the latter's arrest by the Mangalore CCB police.