JOIN USM'lore police foil abduction, murder plan
The accused K M Harish (38), Bopanna (25), Rajesh (20), A P Jagadisha (24), B S Ashoka (34) and Bopanna (20), all from Kodagu district, were plotting to abduct and murder a Mangalorean industrialist, who has businesses in foreign countries, and another industrialist, Mahesh, who is the owner of ‘Renown Hotels and Resorts’ located in Gold Towers on Residency Road in Bangalore.
Briefing mediapersons, Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Gopal B Hosur said that the gang was planning to abduct the Mangalorean industrialist and demand a ransom from his family. “The six men were waiting in a vehicle near Shantipalke bus stand in Thalippadi village under Mulky police station limits on Sunday to abduct the industrialist. However, the police team led by Sub Inspector K Prakash succeeded in nabbing the accused as well as the vehicle, a locally made 12-bore rifle, four cartridges and mobile phones,” he said.
Hosur said the gang had visited Mulky earlier in May this year to locate industrialist’s house. They had also attempted to abduct the industrialist the very next day at TMA Pai International Convention Centre in Mangalore, where the latter was attending a wedding. However, since there was huge crowd, the gang could not execute their plan.
Bangalore plan
Meanwhile, the gang had made plans to abduct Bangalore-based industrialist Mahesh in June. “The gang was planning to open fire and abduct Mahesh near his office, based on the instructions of one Rakesh alias Althaf, who was operating from a foreign country,” Hosur said.
Following Althaf’s instructions, the gang went to Vijayanagar in Mysore to identify Mahesh. However, the gang could not meet Mahesh as he did not go to Mysore. Later, the gang members waited for him near his office and residence for about 10 days, but still could not execute their plans.
In both cases, the gang’s plan was to take the industrialists as captives, demand ransom from their family members and kill the captives, if their relatives failed to meet their demand.
Hosur said the vehicle was hired from Mangalore a month ago. Althaf had made all the arrangements, from money to weapons. He is accused in seven cases, while a case has been registered against Harish, one of the arrested, at Cottonpet police station under Arms and Ammunition Act, Hosur said.
Efforts are on to trace the whereabouts of Althaf, the IGP said, adding that an award of Rs 10,000 has been announced to the Special Investigation Team for nabbing the gang.