In a significant crackdown, the Mangaluru East police have successfully apprehended two interstate criminals involved in a series of vehicle theft and chain-snatching incidents. The operation led to the recovery of stolen gold jewellery and a motorcycle with a combined value of approximately Rs 1.7 lakh.
Details of the Arrest and Investigation
The police action was initiated following a formal complaint registered at the Mangaluru East police station concerning the theft of a motorcycle. The vehicle was reportedly stolen from a complex in Yeyyadi on December 12. The Crime Branch of the Mangaluru East police station took charge of the investigation.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the police team moved swiftly and arrested the two accused on Tuesday. The individuals have been identified as Faisal, also known as Thota Faisal, from Ullal, and Nithin Kumar from Vinayaka Nagar in Mysuru.
Confession and Recovery of Stolen Goods
During detailed interrogation, the arrested duo confessed to their involvement in not just the bike theft but also a separate chain-snatching case. They admitted to targeting a 70-year-old woman, Honnamma Mahadev Naik, at Gardi Hitlu Belake in Bhatkal taluk on December 13. The incident, originally reported within the limits of the Bhattal Rural police station, involved snatching a gold chain from the elderly victim before fleeing.
Based on their confession, the police conducted searches and successfully recovered the stolen items. The haul included a gold chain valued at around Rs 1.2 lakh and the motorcycle used in the crime, worth about Rs 45,000.
Extensive Criminal History of the Accused
Police officials revealed that one of the accused, Faisal, has a long and serious criminal record. He is reportedly involved in approximately 42 cases registered across multiple police stations in districts including Udupi, Karkala, Manipal, Mangaluru, Belthangady, Vittal, Kankanady City, Puttur, Shirva, Surathkal, Kadaba, Konaje, and Kushalnagar (Madikeri). His criminal activities also extend to the state of Kerala.
Faisal is wanted in connection with serious offences such as robbery, dacoity, theft, and even murder. Authorities confirmed that there are more than 10 non-bailable warrants pending against him in various courts.
The successful operation was carried out by a dedicated team from the Mangaluru East police station. The team was led by Inspector Ananth Padmanabha and included PSI Manohar Prasad, ASIs Chandrashekar, Sudhakar Rao, and Rajashekar, along with head constables, constables, and other station staff. City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH commended the team for their swift action.
