In an early hour operation, the Uttara Kannada police shot two in the leg when they were trying to flee with ransom money along with three others after attacking police personnel. Three policemen, including a police inspector, sustained injuries and five have been arrested.
The shootout happened at 4 a.m. on Saturday when the Yellapur police were chasing men involved in kidnapping of Mundgod-based gambler-turned-businessmen Zameer Ahmed Dargahwale.
The gang had abducted Mr. Dargahwale on January 9 demanding a ransom of ₹30 lakh but had released him on Friday after receiving ₹18 lakh. The Mundgod police tracked down a few persons on Friday and their arrest led to more names being revealed.
Tracing the miscreants, the Mundgod police chased them from Khalghatgi and alerted the Yellapur police. On seeing the Yellapur police at Dauginal Village near Yellapur road, the accused while trying to flee, rammed their car into a tree at Khatwala cross on Yellapur-Haliyal road.
The accused then attacked the police with sharp weapons and chili powder and injured CPI Mundgod Ranganath Neelamnavar, PSI Parshuram, and Yellapur police personnel Shafi Ahmed. The police fired two shots in the air as a warning, but when it did not deter the accused, two were shot in the leg.
The main accused Rahim Jafar Saab, 27, and Ajay Fakirappa Madli, 25, are being treated at Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences, while the injured police were treated at a hospital in Yellapur. The other three accused are Sagar Kalal, Dadapeer Allabaksh, and Hassan Moinuddin Khilledar from Dharwad.
According to the police, Mr. Dhargawale was also a habitual offender earlier. He has been accused of throwing party for criminals released from prison and then using them for his criminal activities. Of late, he had turned a businessman and reportedly amassed huge money. SP of Uttar Kannada Narayan said the gang led by Rahim had planned the kidnap reportedly on December 3 and had executed it on January 9.
Published – January 11, 2025 09:21 pm IST