Six More Associates of Bannanje Raja nabbed by the Anti Rowdy Squad: Cars and Mobile Phones Seized

In a major breakthrough, the district Anti Rowdy Squad has nabbed 06 more associates of Bannanje Raja, the Gulf based underworld criminal originally hailing from Udupi. These arrests have been made based on the information provided by two of the members (Naveenchandra Alva and Dharmendra Shetty) of the same gang arrested earlier. These arrested are involved in various incidents of threat, extortion and assault on rich businessmen and industrialists of both Udupi and DK districts at the behest of their leader Bananje Raja @ Rajendra Kumar who at present is believed to be in the Middle East. While four of the six arrested are students studying in various colleges in the city, the other two are petty criminals involved previously in various communal incidents. However, the main henchman of the gang who is believed to have actually carried out the threats and shootings is yet to be caught.
The names of the persons arrested and brief description of their activities is as under:

1. Sandeep Shetty 22 yrs S/o Sadashiva Shetty R/o Kolya Kotekar village Mangalore taluk: A SSLC dropout is involved in several communal incidents in the past. Presently he is eking his livelihood by working in a garage. He is involved in the recent attack on businessman Ervine Pinto in which on 26/12/05 he along with Deepak, Vishal, Shelly and Shaji waylaid him at gunpoint near Hoige bazar Mlore and attempted to kill him. In this connection a case was registered in Mangalore South PS Cr No 422/05 U/s 341, 504, 506, 307, 427 R/w 34 IPC and sec 27 Arms Act on the complaint of Ervine Pinto against Bannanje Raja and others.

2. Deepakraj 27 yrs S/o Srinivas Kotian R/o Balabagh Mlore: Has studied upto SSLC and is working as seizure agent in Attavara. He is also involved in few cases of assault in the past. Presently, he is involved in the case of attack on Erwine Pinto where in he and Deepak had followed Ervine Pinto on a motor cycle and made him to stop the vehicle by saying there is leakage of oil.

3. Vishalraj 18 yrs S/o Vishwanath Shetty R/o Tokkottu Mangalore taluk: He is studying II BCom in the University College Mlore. He has one case of assault against him relating to fight within students of the college. He is also involved in the recent attack on Ervine Pinto where in he had accompanied the others.

4. Shinto Jacob 20 yrs S/o PV Jacob R/o Thiruvalla Pathanamchitta district Kerala state: Hailing from good family in Kerala, he is studying III BCA (Computer application) in the St Aloysius College Mlore. He came in contact with the main accused Shaji @ David while staying with him in a flat near Kadri. On 17/06/05 he had accompanied Shaji and two others to the house of Richard Pinto (Owner of Souza Sterionics) near Morgans gate where in they had attempted to kill Richard Pinto by opening fire. In this connection a case was registered in Mlore South PS Cr No 214/05 U/s 307, 109 R/w 34 IPC and sec 27 Arms Act.

5. Shabi Thomas Jacob 22 yrs S/o Thomas Jacob R/o Thiruvalla Pathanamchitta district Kerala state: Also from good family in Kerala is studying III BSc Nursing in Laxmi Memorial college of Nursing Mlore. He also came in contact with Shaji while staying in the same flat with Shinto and others. He had accompanied Shaji and Shelly to Brahmavara on 17/12/2005 where in they had barged into the house of one John Luis (local businessman) and had opened fire to kill him. In this connection on the complaint Mr Luis a case has been registered in Brahmavara PS Cr No 195/05 U/s 307 IPC and 25 Arms Act (of Udupi district). He has been handed over to Udupi Police for further interrogation.

6. Shelly S/o C Anthony 20 yrs R/o Payyanur Kannur district Kerala state:Son of a retired government employee, he is studying II BCA in St Aloysius college Mlore. He was also staying with others in the same flat in Kadri and developed friendship with Shaji. He is involved in all the three incidents mentioned above.

Along with these accused, two Maruthi Zen cars and 05 cell phones have also been seized by the police. The accused will be produced before the jurisdictional Magistrates after completing their interrogation and other procedural formalities.

Efforts are still continued to nab the main culprit Shaji @ Asif @ David @ Boxer and few others who are still at large. A Police team has already been dispatched to Kerala to find their where abouts and apprehend them.

However, the operation has exposed all links of this gang which so far was very active in both Udupi and DK districts. The operation has also revealed how our youngsters are getting attracted towards crime because of their association with undesirable elements and lack of proper supervision by the parents as well as teachers. Hence an appeal is being made to all parents and educational institutions to keep close watch on their children/students especially about the type of friends they are having and about their after college hour activities. The schools and colleges should watch out for outside elements trying to influence their students and lure them into criminal activities. Parents of outside children should keep tab on the type of persons with whom their children are sharing their accommodation in the city.

The District Police will be eager to come to the assistance of any parent / educational institution in this regard.