Basheer murder conspiracy was hatched in jail; 4 more booked

The conspiracy to kill Abdul Basheer (who was grievously assaulted on January 3, and died on January 7) was hatched inside the Mangaluru jail, have claimed the accused.

Informing the same to reporters here on Wednesday, City Police Commissioner T R Suresh said that based on information provided by the four accused who have been already arrested (Kishan Poojary, Srijith, Dhanush Poojary and Sandesh Kotian), it has come to light that the conspiracy was hatched by the other four accused. The accused have already been in prison in connection with various other criminal cases.

The accused include: Mithun alias Kalladka Mithun (28), a resident of Golthamajalu in Bantwal taluk, and arrested in Bantwal violece case; Tilakraj Shetty (28), a resident of Akashbhavan in the City and arrested in Kankanady murder case; Raju alias Rajesh Shetty (21), resident of Farngipet in Bantwal taluk and arrested in Kankanady murder case and Anup (30), resident of Akashbhavan in City, who was recently released on bail.

There are six cases pending against Mithun, including one murder and four attempt to murder cases, informed the police commissioner.

Incidentally, Mithun, Tilakraj and Raju were involved in the recent clash inside the prison and Mithun has been sent to Bengaluru prison, while Tilakraj has been sent to Bellary prison and Raju has been sent to Belagavi prison. Fresh cases will be booked against Mithun, Tilakraj and Raju and Anup will be arrested soon, the police commissioner said.

In reply to a query on the possible reason for assaulting Basheer as he was not involved in any criminal activities, the city police commissioner said that the accused wanted to kill somebody in Kottara Chowki area in retaliation to Deepak Rao's murder and Basheer was chosen as he was a well-known person in the area.
Police have arrested six more persons in connection with the murder of Deepak Rao thus taking the total number of arrested to 12.

The arrested are Mohammed Rafeeq alias Mango Rafeeq, accused in two attempt to murder cases; Irfan, accused in one attempt to murder case; Mohammed Unus, accused in one attempt to murder and one assault case; Mohammed Zaheed, accused in two attempt to murder cases, one assault and one theft case; Hidaithulla, accused in a rape case; and Imran Nawaz, accused in a assault case. All the six are residents of Katipalla in Surathkal.

Stating that all the six have been booked under charges of conspiracy and to crime, Suresh said that investigation is going on.

It may be recalled that four persons were earlier arrested and are in judicial custody. They are Mohammed Naushad, Mohammed Irfan, Abdul Azeez and Abdul Azeem.