Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod/Mangalore

Kasargod/Mangalore, Jun 6: Two persons from Kerala, who were staying in a lodge at Attavar in Mangalore, are suspected to be murdered. Three persons have been taken into custody in this connection, sources said.

Nafir from Thalassery in Kannur district, and Fahim from Kozhikode, both said to be involved in smuggling, were reportedly murdered in the Attavar lodge. As per sources, their bodies were buried in Kasargod, though the exact spot is not yet known.

Sources said that the two suspected smugglers had been missing from several days, and that they might have been murdered about four days back, though the incident came to light only on Sunday July 6.

Three persons from Cherkala, identified as Munafath Munawar Sanaf, Mohammed Irshad and Mohammed Rizwan, have been arrested by the Mangalore CCB police, it is learnt.

It is said that Nafir and Fahim were in the Gulf from seven months and had come to Kasargod via Bangalore airport a few days ago. They had reportedly smuggled 4.5 kg of gold through the airport and it is suspected that the two were killed in connection to this smuggled gold.

The bodies were reportedly buried in a deserted spot in Kasargod.

Sources said that Mangalore CCB police arrived in Kasargod for investigation and arrested the three persons. Another police team reportedly visited the residences of the victims and collected more information. However, the police have declined to divulge more details. A clearer picture is likely to emerge after interrogation of the three suspects.