Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jul 15: The Dakshina Kannada police have arrested three persons in connection with thefts of vehicles in different parts of the district. The vehicles were being used for illegal sand transport in the coastal belt.

The arrested are Moidin Shareef alias Shareef (26), Dawood Jaleel alias Jemcy alias Kalandar (21) and Moidin Irshad alias Irshad (21), all from Kumble and Uppala areas of Kasargod district.

Addressing a press meet at his office here on Wednesday July 15, Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police (SP) Dr Sharanappa said that five pick-up trucks and two Maruti Omnis have been seized from the accused.

Among the vehicles recovered, two pick-up trucks were stolen by the accused within the limits of Bantwal town police station, and one pick-up truck in Vittal. Two pick-up trucks and an Omni were stolen within the limits of Mangaluru city police limits. The police also seized a Wagon R used by the accused.

The accused along with their accomplices would steal vehicles at night and use them to illegally transport sand in Kumble area and the coastal belt, the SP said, adding that cases have also been registered in Kumble police station regarding this.

Based on credible information, the police personnel of Vittal and Bantwal town as well as the DCIB police on Wednesday July 15 intercepted a pick-up truck that was moving suspiciously near Saradka check-post. The accused trio were in the vehicle, and on being questioned, the thefts mentioned above came to light.

The stolen vehicles were recovered near Kumble. A few other accused who are absconding will be caught soon and more stolen vehicles are expected to be seized from them, the SP said.

He also said that the confiscated vehicles will be released to the rightful owners after verification and investigation.

The operation was held on the directions of SP Dr Sharanappa, additional police commissioner Vincent Shantakumar, and Bantwal sub-divisional ASP Rahul Kumar. All the police personnel from different stations who participated in the operation will be rewarded with appreciation certificates and cash, said the SP.

Regarding the deaths of three labourers at a construction site at Farangipet on Tuesday July 14, he said that a case registered under the IPC section 304(A).

"We have informed the families of the dead labourers, but may be due to poverty they are unable to come here and claim the mortal remains. If they do not come, we will carry out the final rites here. Or, we can conduct the funerals here and family members can join. If they want to take back the mortal remains, we will make arrangemenrs for that," he said.