Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (AM/ANK)
Mangaluru, Aug 17: Kadri police have arrested eight persons, who were behaving in suspicious manner, from a lodge in Pumpwell, late evening on Friday, August 16. Police commissioner Dr P S Harsha said that the arrested belong to gang involved in cheating and extorting. He also ruled out any terror angle.
Addressing mediapersons on Saturday, August 17, Dr P S Harsha said, “On the primary investigation, the arrested seem to be members of a cheating and extortion gang who extract money from vulnerable people.
“The arrested are T Peter Sam (53), a resident of Kerala who is the main accused, T K Bopanna (33), a resident of Madikeri, Madan (41), Chinnappa (38), Sunil Raju (35) and Kodandarama (39), all residents of Bengaluru, G Mohiudeen (70), a resident of Kulur in Mangaluru, and Abdul Lateef (59), a resident of Falnir in Mangaluru who runs hotel business.
“During investigation, it was revealed that Mohiudeen and Lateef operate from Mangaluru, while Sam Peter has links in West Bengal and Bhuvaneshwar.
“One revolver, 8 live bullets, car bearing a ‘Government of India National Crime Investigation Bureau’ board, Fake ID cards, visiting cards, a 4.5 mm pistol, laptop, 10 mobile phones and a voice recorder was confiscated.
“There looks no connection to any act of terrorism. Investigation is in progress to know the connection between Mohiudeen and Lateef, the two Mangalureans and Sam Peter from Kerala.
“They did not register themselves at the hotel lodge. We are checking the CCTV footage of the hotel as well,” he said.
As per ealier reports overnight, nine people were reportedly arrested by Kadri police.