Udupi intra-gang war: Accused remanded to 14-day judicial custody

Team Udayavani, May 28, 2024, 9:55 AM IST

Udupi: The Udupi Town Police have registered a suo motu complaint based on videos and counter-complaints regarding the intra-gang conflict at Kunjibettu. Six individuals have been arrested so far, and the Udupi Court has ordered 14-day judicial custody for the accused.

On May 24, the accused, Ashik from Kombugudde, Kapu, and Rakeeb from Hoode, Tonse, were presented in court. Subsequently, on the night of May 26, Saklain from Hoodi and on May 27, Shareef from Brahmavar, Majeed from Kapu, and Alfas were also presented in court. All six individuals have been remanded to judicial custody.

Action Against Hospital

It is gathered that the police have taken action against a private hospital in Padubidri, Kaup Taluk, which treated the accused, without informing the authorities.

Four More Cases Registered

In connection with the gang war, one case was already registered. Following the arrests and investigation, four more related cases have been registered, according to the police.

The investigation reportedly revealed that the act was carried out with the intention of killing Mohammad Saklain. On the late night of May 18, near Sharada Kalyana Mantapa, Mohammad Shareef, Alfas, and Majeed reportedly intercepted Saklain and his friends who were traveling from Manipal to Kaup in a grey car and attacked them. Shareef assaulted Saklain with a sword and a club, injuring his leg.

Counter-Complaint

Shareef and Ashik, who are friends, reportedly had a fallout when Shareef informed the police about Ashik’s whereabouts during a search by Mangalurupolice. On May 18, Shareef, along with Alfas and Abdul Majeed, came to Manipal to inform the police about Ashik’s location.

The counter-complaint states that Isaq riding a car hit Shareef’s car. Ashik, Shahid, Siyaz, Rakeeb, and Saklain then attacked Shareef and his friends with swords, attempting to kill them. The incident led to the filing of complaints and counter-complaints at the Udupi Town Police Station.

Video Evidence

Inspector Shridhar Vasanth Satare, upon seeing viral videos of the incident, visited the site with his team and registered cases based on public information. Cases were filed against the accused under various sections for assault with deadly weapons, group assault, grievous bodily harm, and other related offenses.

Terror on Highway

The accused were reported to have driven recklessly on the Udupi-Manipal highway on the night of May 18, causing panic among other drivers. The accused allegedly drove at high speeds, overtook vehicles abruptly, and returned on the same route, causing near accidents.

Gang Resurgence?

Team Garuda, which has a network extending beyond Udupi to other districts, is known for its involvement in various crimes such as drug trafficking, robbery, and theft. The gang, comprising mainly young individuals, was previously inactive, but now appears to be active again.

Challenges for Police

The lack of vehicles for beat duty has hindered police operations, leading to a reliance on private vehicles. Incidents of police being attacked during interventions have raised concerns about their safety. Recent attacks on police personnel in Malpe and Udupi have highlighted the risks faced by the police force.