A builder from Falnir has accused underworld operative Ravi Poojary of threat for ransom, the Mangalore South Police said.
In a complaint, Sudhesh Karunakaran of Karuna Infra Properties said he had been receiving calls threatening his life if he does not pay ransom.
On November 29, 2013 he received a call on his mobile phone threatening of killing him by December end. Mr. Karunakaran received another call on March 10 wherein the caller said in Hindi that he would be shot in his office in Falnir.
On March 25, he reportedly received calls from a person named Ravi Poojary asking for a ransom of Rs. 2 crore. Assistant Commissioner of Police Pavan Nijjur said the police were trying to verify details of the calls received by Mr. Karunakaran.
Explosives seizedThe Udupi district police seized 15 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, 1,360 detonators and 500 gelatin sticks in two villages near Karkala on Wednesday.
Assistant Superintendent of Police K. Annamalai said two police teams raided the three places simultaneously – a house and an open space covered by tarpaulin at Kalkaru village and a house in Tellar village – and seized the explosives.
The value of all the explosives seized on Wednesday taken together is estimated at Rs. 30 lakh. The police are on the lookout for Biju, Veeramani, John and Reju, residents of Karkala, and Santosh, a resident of Belman village. “All the five are absconding. But we have some clues to their whereabouts and are pursuing them,” Mr. Annamalai said.
The total amount of ammonium nitrate seized in the last two days taken together is 77.5 tonnes. According to the police, this is one of the largest seizures of ammonium nitrate in the State.
The district police, the Controller of Explosives and Internal Security Division are working on the case together now and are exploring whether the materials were intended for terrorist or Naxal activities.
Mob attackFive persons were injured and their vehicles damaged when a mob of at least 13 persons allegedly attacked them near Vittal late in Tuesday night. Though the police are uncertain of the motive of the attack, officials at the Vittal Police Station said there were suspicions that the five were assaulted for having talked to four girls from a minority community a little while earlier.
According to the complaint lodged by Lingappa Gowda, around 10 a.m., he and Karunakara Gowda – who was driving the four-wheeler – Lokesh, Ravi and Shashikiran – all aged between 30 and 35 – were headed from Vittal town back to their residences near Jakimula village when a group stopped their vehicle at Kumbalbettu. The mob is alleged to have dragged the men of the vehicle, assaulted them, flipped over the four-wheel drive and set fire to a bike.
With Karunakara allegedly suffering from serious injuries, the police have filed a case of attempt to murder. Of the 13 persons named by Mr. Gowda, five were arrested.
