Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sept 11: In a major breakthrough, Mangaluru City Police have arrested Niyaz alias Niya, the prime accused in a 2017 case involving assault and attempted murder of a police officer registered at Urwa police station.
The accused had been evading arrest and skipping court appearances for years. On Thursday, September 11 in the morning, he was traced and apprehended from Hulimavu, Arekere, on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
Police confirmed that Niyaz was wanted in 13 criminal cases across multiple stations in Mangaluru and Udupi districts. “Several courts had issued non-bailable warrants against him. His arrest is a result of sustained intelligence efforts,” said a senior officer from Mangaluru City Commissionerate.
52 long-term absconders held in 3-month Drive
In a wider crackdown on chronic offenders, Mangaluru City police have arrested 52 accused persons over the past three months — all of whom had been absconding for more than two years in connection with various criminal cases and failing to appear before courts. All were produced before the respective courts and have been remanded to judicial custody.
Among those arrested are several individuals involved in communal violence and rioting cases, including Chandrahasa Keshav Shettigar, Jana, Khader Kulai, Shakeeb, Mohammad Hussain, and Rameez.
Police have also apprehended a group of known rowdy-sheeters, such as Aditya Kumar, Bharath Balu, Nawaf, Ummar Farooq, Faraj, and Mohammad Niyaz, all of whom were evading warrants.
The operation also targeted absconders in NDPS Act cases, including Pumpa Kashi, Deepa Narayan, Mohammad Nihal, Mohammad Shafiq, Babar Pasha, Mohammad Iqbal, and Abubakar. These individuals were facing charges related to the possession and trafficking of narcotics and had failed to comply with court proceedings.
In addition, police arrested several accused linked to murder and attempted murder cases. These include Shanawaz alias Shaan, who was involved in a murder case, and others like Ganesh Lakshman Saketh, Aditya Kumar, Abdul Nasir, Imran alias Imbu, Rameez, and Mohammad Nazeem, who were wanted in various attempted murder cases.
The police also brought to justice 12 other individuals who had long-standing non-bailable warrants issued against them for wilful evasion of court summons. Among them are Vishal Kumar, Mohammad Nihal, Irshad, Hanif Kokkada, and several others, all of whom were actively avoiding legal proceedings for extended periods.
As part of this extensive operation, police have booked fresh cases under Sections 208, 209, and 269 of the Indian Penal Code, along with applicable provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), citing wilful evasion of judicial process and endangering public safety.
“This drive reflects our commitment to ensuring that no one can escape the law indefinitely. All absconders will be brought to justice,” a senior police official stated.
The crackdown was executed under the direct supervision of the Mangaluru City police commissioner, with coordinated support from various police stations and investigation units across the commissionerate.