Thursday, December 14, 2006

Sukhananda Shetty Murder Case: Two Arrested

On the morning of 01/12/2006 at about 1000 hrs one Sukhananda Shetty a BJP leader of Mulki- Moodabidre area and sitting member of Mulki Town Panchayat was attacked and assaulted by some unknown assailants at Kulai Honnakatte area of Surathkal PS limits. The incident occurred when the said Sukhanandda Shetty was on the way to his office Marble Trade Company at Kulai Honnakatte on NH 17. The accused came in a Golden brown colour Quails vehicle (TN-43-S-4617) and attacked Sukhananda Shetty just when he was moving towards his office after parking his vehicle behind the office premise. After the incident the accused escaped in the same Qualis vehicle. The injured Sukhananda Shetty was immediately shifted to A.J Hospital Mangalore where he succumbed to the injuries sustained. In thic connection a case in Surathkal PS Cr No.219/06 U/s 143, 147, 148, 341, 324, 302 r/w 149 IPC was registered and the investigation taken up by PI Surathkal Mr.T.R.Jagannath.

In order to assist the Investigating Officer, a special team headed by PI Mangalore South PS Mr.Venkatesh Prasanna was also constituted so as to detect the case and apprehend the culprits on priority. The team consisted of 03 CPIs, 02 PSIs, 03 PSI (Probs) and other policemen chosen from various police stations of the district.

The team after detailed investigation and extensive search operations both within the district and outside has today (14/12/2006) got a major breakthrough in the case. One of the prime accused viz Akbar Kabeer 28yrs S/o B.Bhava @ Beedi Bhava R/o Anebali house Gurupura Moolur village Mangalore taluk involved in the case has been arrested today morning from a lodge in Sakleshpur town of Hassan district. In addition another person by name Saleem S/o P.M.Mohammed 27 yrs owner of a local Hotel in Sakleshpur town Hassan district who had harboured the accused Kabeer has also been arrested. The arrested accused Kabeer is a notorious rowdy and communal goonda and is involved in 06 criminal cases in the past all of which are communally motivated offences.

While the detailed interrogation of the accused Kabeer is on, the preliminary questioning reveals the involvement of about 08 persons in the actual act of committing the murder. In addition to these persons who have committed the offence, participation of several others in conspiring, assisting and sheltering the accused is also coming to light. Efforts are being made to secure all such persons and take legal action against them.

Besides, the vehicle used by the culprits to commit the offence has already been secured on 02/12/2006 from an isolated place near Bajpe Airport where it was abandoned. Verification reveals it to be a stolen vehicle from Maharashtra state and its actual Reg No is MH-04-CB-7167 and the accused have used a fake number plate of Tamil Nadu registration to mislead the police.

Both the accused have been brought to Mangalore and will be produced before the judicial Magistrate after completion of their questioning.

The investigation is in full swing under the direct supervision of the SP DK.