Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Mar 22: Five persons have been arrested in connection to the abduction and robbery of a jeweller from Kerala at Manipal here a few days ago, sources said.

Dilip, a jeweller from Thrissur, was looted on the night of March 17 when he was on his way from Kerala to Mangaluru via Karkala. Robbers in the guise of policemen had abducted him from a bus, taken him away by car and left him near Padubidri after looting gold and cash worth Rs 42.57 lac from him.

Six persons were involved in the abduction and robbery, out of whom the police have arrested five while hunt is on for the sixth accused, sources said. The police have not revealed their identities.

On the day of the incident, Dilip had been to three gold melting jewellers in Udupi district including the one in Perdoor. Sources said that the police have questioned the jewellers to whom Dilip had sold gold to. It is said that the son of one of these jewellers, in Perdoor, to whom Dilip had sold a large amount of gold, is the prime suspect. Apparently, before getting abducted, Dilip had made his final stop at this jeweller. On questioning the owner of the jewellery store, the police reportedly learnt that his son had sketched the entire plan to rob Dilip, with assistance from five others.

Police are expected to produce the arrested in court on Wednesday March 22.