An anaesthetist from Mangalore, who had come to attend the State Government Medical Officers Conference in Udupi, was robbed of gold ornaments, mobile phone and cash totalling Rs. 5,000 by a group of five muggers, who also took away his ATM card and withdrew Rs. 42,000 from his account the next day.
According to the police, Anil Kumar hired a taxi at Mission Compound around 11.30 p.m. on Saturday to return to Mangalore. After travelling about four kilometres on National Highway 66, the driver said the vehicle had broken down and parked the car by the side of the highway. About 30 minutes later, two persons came on a motorcycle and offered to help Mr. Kumar find another vehicle. They brought him near Udupi on their motorcycle and got him into a waiting car with three persons already seated inside. The two persons on the motorcycle also entered the car and robbed Dr. Kumar of his gold ring, gold chain and cash Rs. 5,000 along with his mobile telephone, by holding a knife against him. The group then pushed him out of the car and moved towards Udupi.
When Dr. Kumar checked his account, he found himself poorer by Rs. 42,000. The cumulative loss has been estimated at Rs. 1 lakh.
Udupi police have registered a case based on the complaint filed by Dr. Kumar.
Couple commit suicide
Bodies of a middle-aged couple were found in a well near their home in Nejar Moodutonse village in Malpe on Thursday and the police suspect that the duo committed suicide unable to cope with their financial problems.
According to a complaint filed by the couple’s son Sunil Naik with the Malpe police, his father Ratnakar Naik (51), who worked as a mason, and mother Padmavati Naik (48) committed suicide by jumping into the well about 10 metres away from their house. It is suspected that the couple took the extreme step overcome by the pressure of managing funds for the impending marriage of their son and daughter.
Family members got anxious when the couple went missing from Monday afternoon. A frantic search followed until the bodies were traced in the nearby well.
Kasaragod residents in net
The Mangalore police arrested Abdul Barish, a resident of Kanhangad, for alleged illegal possession of three kg of ganja. Immigration personnel caught Barish while he was coming out of Mangalore International Airport. He landed at the airport by an Air India Express flight from Dubai.
The Customs officials arrested a Kasaragod resident for alleged illegal possession of ‘Termes Zibad’ saffron worth Rs. 7 lakh. In a press note, Commissioner of Customs D. Purushotham said the Kasaragod resident was caught after he landed at the Mangalore International Airport by a flight from Dubai on Sunday. Officials have not revealed the name as they suspect involment of larger gang.
