Udupi: Policemen seize Pistol, Bombs from Arrested Underworld Suspect Siraj Hasan
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jun 20: The policemen, who arrested Siraj Hasan, who is suspected to have close connections with the underworld element Bannanje Raja on Saturday July 18, have recovered a country-made pistol and four live bombs from his possession. Siraj, who lived in Qatar since a year, had come here ten days ago.
District superintendent of police(SP) Pravin Madhukar Pawar informed at a press conference held on Sunday July 19, that town police inspector Maruti G Nayak and other personnel, acting on a reliable tip off, went to Kallianpur Santekatte and took him into custody and found during frisking, the above firearms concealed in his clothes.
Siraj told the policemen that he had been living in the home of his second wife in Santekatte since the last ten days. While living in Qatar, he made use of a fake passport he had obtained in Mumbai. Siraj not only faces the cases relating to attacking a person named Ganesh Jattanna in 2003 and murdering Kola Rakesh the same year, but also of assaulting policemen on security duty, while being treated in the Udupi district hospital in 2005, with the support of other accused, Mohammed Riaz and Shabib Ahmed and running away.
A non-bailabvle arrest warrant is in force against Siraj in the case of escaping from custody as above. There are other cases of possessing illegal fire arms, assault and attempt to murder in Shirva, Suratkal and Udupi town police stations against him.
Another case pertaining to hatching of a conspiracy along with Achangi Mahesh from Sakeleshpur, to murder Dayyu alias Dayanand Shetty from Katpady, while in judicial custody in 2005, is pending against the arrested man. In that case, the Moodbidri policemen had seized fire arms and live bullets from the accomplices of Siraj.
The SP revealed that during interrogation, they collected information that since a year in which he was in Qatar, Siraj developed contacts with many notorious criminals including Madoor Isubu, an alleged criminal having close connection with fundamentalist organizations, and had hatched plans to eliminate leaders from another community. He added that they are investigating a case relating to running of a hawala racket by Hasan, in association with Isubu. Steps are being taken to frame him under Karnataka Control Of Organized Crimes Act, he said. On being produced in court, Siraj was remanded to police custody till July 23.
Additional SP Kashinath Talakeri, DySP Jayant V Shetty, circle inspector Girish and sub inspector Matuti Nayak were present at the press conference. The SP said that 119 more criminals are at large in the district, and concerted efforts are being made to nab them.
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