Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Feb 28: Unidentified robbers abducted seven fishermen who were returning after fishing in a boat and robbed fish and diesel worth lacs from the boat. A case in this connection is registered at Malpe police station.

Chetan Salian (42), a resident of Kodavoor grama, Malpe, has stated in the police complaint that Nagaraj Harikant, Nagaraj H, Harikant, Arun Harikant Ankola, Ashok Kumata, Karthik Harikant Monkey, Chandrakanth Harikant Uppunda, and Subrahmanya Kharvi had gone for deep-sea fishing on the Lailan boat named Krishnanandana on February 19.

Nagaraja Harikant telephoned in the morning on February 27 that they were returning to Malpe at night on Feb 26 or Feb 27 with lakhs worth of fish. “As the net of the boat got stuck to the boat fan, the boat stopped. Meanwhile, about 25 robbers attacked us all of a sudden and dragged the boat to the shore. They abducted us and robbed about Rs 8 lacs worth of fish and 7,500 liters of diesel worth Rs. 5,76,700 that was filled in the boat. They have taken the fishermen as hostages,” he said.

A case under sections 395, 365, 342, and section 149 is registered at Malpe police station, stating that kidnappers have caused a loss of several lakhs and kept the fishermen as hostages, harassing them mentally and physically.