The Dakshina Kannada district police have cracked the mysterious disappearance of the alleged underworld operative Umesh Rai, who went missing from Puttur in March this year.
Four personswere arrested on Thursday by a team led by Amit Singh, Assistant Superintendent of Police, and they are said to have confessed to the murder of Umesh Rai.
The arrested persons are Jairam Rai, Ammanna Rai (relatives of Muthappa Rai), Ramakrishna Naik and Ramachandra Naik. Police sources told The Hindu that there was a strong suspicion about Muthappa Rai's involvement in the murder conspiracy.
Conspiracy
A.S. Rao, Superintendent of Police, told presspersons here on Friday that Umesh Rai had hatched a conspiracy to kill Muthappa Rai in February, when the latter was participating in a rally in Puttur. Information about the failed conspiracy, however, reached Ammanna Rai, who is Muthappa Rai's first cousin and a listed anti-social element, Mr. Rao said.
Amanna Rai allegedly approached one Jairaj Rai, a relative and allegedly a noted anti-social element and an accused in 18 separate cases of rioting, abduction and extortion. They allegedly decided to eliminate Umesh Rai to neutralise the threat to Muthappa Rai's life.
The duo had also confessed to having sought the services of alleged contract killers Ramchandra Naik and Ramakrishna Naik, Mr. Rao said.
About the involvement of Muthappa Rai Mr. Rao said that nothing could be made out at this stage.
After murdering Umesh Rai, his killers allegedly buried his body in the garden of Jairam Rai's house. The police plan to exhume the body immediately after getting permission from the Puttur Assistant Commissioner.
