Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Aug 2: Relating to cases of collecting protection money (Hafta) on behalf of goonda and mafia elements and helping these gangs in other ways, a team of police from the district led by deputy superintendent of police, T P Ranjith, arrested four persons from Bangalore.

The arrested persons have been identified as Asif (24) from Paivalike Bayikatte Lakshamveedu Colony, Faizal alias Tyre Faizal (26) from Kumble AKG Nagar, Abdul Aziz alias Tadiyan Aziz (26) from Paivalike and Nizam (30) from Kumble Pookatte. The police said that the arrested persons are accomplices of Gujari Hameed from Paivalike Attegoly, a notorious criminal who was arrested a few days ago.

The police raided a secluded spot in Bangalore and arrested the trio, based on the information they culled from Gujari Hameed during his interrogation. Hameed was arrested a week back. The above persons used to provide services to mafia gangas like collection of Hafta and providing residential accommodation and other facilities to gang members.

The police have said that Faizal is an accused in over ten cases. He had given the police a slip when they arrested Hameed from Udyavar Manjeshwar last week. Faizal happens to be the second accused in a case of threatening Manjeshwar police sub-inspector, Pramod, by flashing a revolver at him. Faizal's name also appears as an accused in cases relating blackmailing of businessmen and others by using women in Kasargod and Dakshina Kannada district. The police said that Faizal was also involved with an incident in which Hawala money amounting to Rs 16 lac was robbed from Kasargod in 2010, and also in a case in which a person named Zia was injured. He was also involved with assault on police in 2010, ganja trafficking, and some other cases.

Faizal was involved in cases relating to thefts of tippers and trucks, and was an accused in a case of assaulting Ramesh, a constable attached to Manjeshwar station, in the past. He has a number of other cases including robbery and murder attempts, police said.

The police who informed that several more persons are involved with this crime, are looking out for them. The police team which conducted the said raid included Pradeep Kumar Chavar, Sunil Abraham, Rathish, Jinesh, Cinish Cyriac, and others.