With the arrest of two persons, Dakshina Kannada Police announced on Tuesday that they have cracked a double murder case, where a couple was murdered and the residence was looted in Kodimbala, Puttur taluk, on September 25.
Abhishek Goyal, Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada, told presspersons that Mohammed Rafique (33) and Kamaruddin alias Sayyad (25) — both described to be first-time offenders by the police — have been arrested for the murder of Thomas and Mary in Undila village near Kadaba.
Mr. Goyal said the accused gained knowledge of Mr. Thomas’s house and the valuables in it while doing repair works there. Questioning revealed that the murder had been planned for three months, he said.
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On September 25, the two arrived at the house asking Mr. Thomas to drop them home. While driving along in the car, they tried to slit his throat and stabbed him in the neck, said Mr. Goyal. They then drove back to the house, murdered Ms. Mary, before stealing valuables from the house.
A stolen phone was later traced to Kodagu, and the two were arrested. Further clues included fingerprints left behind in the car. “Both of them were into gambling, and lost money in it. They were desperate and hatched this plan,” he said.
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The district police had written to the State Home Ministry for additional police personnel in the district, especially in stations that cover Naxal-affected areas, said the SP. “We have sent a proposal asking for one Police Sub-Inspector, two Assistant Sub-Inspectors, six Head Constables and 25 constables each in Venur, Punjalkatte and Belthangady police stations, apart from 24 special officers to serve in these areas,” he said.
He suggested that the local Malekudiya villagers could be appointed, and this would provide employment and increase policing capacity. Today, almost one-third of the posts were vacant, he said and added that 133 persons had to be hired to fill the gap.