Kerala gold smuggling duo murder case: progress and arrests

Kerala gold smuggling duo murder case: progress and arrests

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jul 7, 2014:  Addressing a press meet hours after recovering the bodies of the victims - two Kerala gold smugglers  Nafir and Fahim, - from a deserted spot at Kasargod on July 7, city police commissioner R Hitendra explained, Mohammed Mahajir Sanaf, resident of Cherkala Badiadka, Kasargod, Mohammed Irshad and Mohammed Safwan, residents of Anangoor have been arrested.

 

Accused Irshad, Safwan and Sanaf

 

 

The police officer stated the deceased were agents for smuggling gold from  Gulf. They had smuggled about 3 kg of gold recently, but instead of giving it to the person it was meant for, they sold 2.5 kg of it. The remaining 0.5 kg of gold has been recovered.

Nafir and Fahim had hired a house at Attavar, belonging to one Nafees around 20 days back; the murder took place on July 1 by stabbing. The role of the house owner in the case is under investigation, Hitendra said.

Regarding the arrest episode he told the media, the people in Attavar vicinity informed the police about blood stains found near the rented house, a  police informer kept a close watch. He noticed a Renault Duster vehicle moving suspiciously around the area, with blood stains on its body. The CCB police then intercepted the vehicle near a garage at Mahakali Padpu which led to the arrests. On  strict questioning the culprits revealed the bodies were in jute bags and buried in land belonging to Safwan at Bedagam village in Kasargod. The accused were taken to the spot and the bodies were retrieved and sent  for autopsy.

The police also seized the murder weapon and car used in committing the crime, apart from gold and other items. Asked if the accused have any underworld connection, Hitendra said they have no such links in Karnataka, but investigation on this front is going in other states.

The commissioner advised people to double check before letting  houses on rent to strangers, and examine IDs of tenants’  thoroughly before making commitments. .

The sensitive interstate operation was directed by R Hitendra, under the guidance of DCP (law and order) and DCP (crime), it was led by CCB inspector Valentine D’Souza and sub-divisional ACP of Mangalore South Pawan Nejjoor. Mangalore south inspector Dinkar Shetty, police personnel Shashidhar Shetty, Ganesh M P, Ganesh Kalladka, Venugopal, Chandrashekar, Dinesh Bekal, Rajendra Prasad, Sudhir Shetty, Abdul Jabbar, Mani M N and Tejakumar were part of the police team which had success.