B’luru: Gunshots fired during police chase; Udupi-based notorious extortionists injured, arrested

Team Udayavani, Apr 6, 2022, 9:46 AM IST

Representative Image (Source: Flipboard)

Bengaluru: Two persons of Udupi origin, who were part of a notorious extortion gang, received gunshot wounds during a police chase. When the shooting took place, the duo was being apprehended for their alleged involvement in the abduction, robbery, and sexual assault of a young man, police said.

The injured accused — identified as Mohammed Asheek (22) of Udupi Kapu Taluk and Isaq (21) of Kundapur Taluk — have been admitted to a nearby government hospital for treatment. A car and 10 mobile phones were seized from them, police said.

The search for the other 2 suspects is ongoing, police added.

During the police operation, PSI Umesh was also injured by the attacks of the accused and is being treated in a private hospital.

Case details: 

At around 5 AM on March 26, four persons, including the two injured accused, who were riding a car without number plates, chased and waylaid a young man returning home from the temple in a car. He was threatened with weapons and kidnapped in his car.

The suspects looted the gold ring from the young man and demanded money for his release. They forcefully took his ATM card and withdrew money from his account. Thereafter, they allegedly took the young man to Whitefield and took more money from him, and sexually assaulted him. The victim was later released on a deserted road.

Police operation

A special team was formed to nab the culprits in the crime. The team gathered evidence and launched a search in Mangaluru, Udupi, and other places in the state.

Meanwhile, the accused had been to Davanagere for another extortion and returning to Bengaluru. Police received a tip-off about the accused and tried to arrest them on Tuesday morning. During the operation, the accused injured PSI Umesh with a dagger and tried to flee. Shots were fired to prevent them from escaping, police said.

“Team Garuda-900”

The accused had taken to a life a crime at an early age, police said. They were involved in extortion, robbery, and theft in several districts.  They had even formed a group and called themselves “Team Garuda-900”, police added.

The arrested accused had been absconding after being released on bail and 10 warrants were pending for their arrest, police said.