Three arrested for murder attempt on Bajrang Dal activist

Mangalore, November 21: Three have been arrested by city police in connection with the recent murder attempt on Bajrang Dal activist Ravi alias Ravindra, who was an auto-rickshaw driver by profession.

Announcing this to media in his office, Commissioner of Police Seemanth Kumar Singh said that the main accused Hanif alias Maada Hanif (26), son of Abdul Khader, a resident of Devasya house at Maripalla Pudu village in Bantwal taluk was arrested in Farangipete in Sunday night's operation while two others identified as Abdul Majeed, brother of Kabir, who was stabbed to death in February , and Abdul Rahiman, a resident of Addoor Manibettu and accused in Candle Santhu murder case, were arrested on Monday morning in Gurupur area.

The Commissioner said, preliminary investigations have revealed that the murder attempt on Ravi, a Bajrang Dal activist, was an act of revenge to the murder of Kabir.

The assailants who had come in a car bearing registration number KA-19P-2528 had allegedly waylaid the Ravi's auto-rickshaw, bearing registration number KA 19 C 3111, near Gurpur-Kaikamba and stabbed him with a sharp weapon before fleeing the scene on November 13.

Based on the complaint filed by Ravindra Shettigar, who claimed to be an eye-witness a case has been registered at Bajpe Police Station on the same day. The Commissioner had formed four teams to nab the culprits. “The arrest was the result of continuous effort by these teams” Mr Singh said.

Mr Singh said the accused had targeted Ravindra with a grouse that he played a key role in acting as an informant to killers of Kabir.

Hanief, from whose possession police seized a Maruti Omni used for the crime, and a few weapons, told authorities that Ravindra was targeted for his alleged role in Kabir's death.

Based on information given by Hanif, Mr Singh said, "Police teams zeroed in Majid, the brother of murdered Kabir, and Rahiman, an accused in the murder case of 'Candle' Santhu, a history sheeter and picked them from in and around Gurupura."

"We have information on a list of people who aided and abetted the culprits in various ways, including sheltering them and given them financial and logistical support," the Commissioner said, adding there is material evidence against such persons.

Police effort would be focussed on to paying attention to formalities of building up the case against the accused and their helpers, he said, hinting that more arrests are in the offing and numbers of accused would rise.