Police seek public help to catch 14 fugitives in Baikampady highway robbery

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru City Police on Monday, released photographs of 14 individuals who remain absconding in connection with the highway robbery near Baikampady that targeted a gold trader from Kerala. The police urged the public to assist in tracing the accused and promised that the identities of those providing information would be kept confidential. A cash reward will be given to anyone whose credible tip results in the arrest of the wanted persons. Shibin Gangadharan, a native of Puducherry, has been identified as the main accused. The other suspects are Sreerag, Atul, Mithun Lal, Azeer Tharayil, Vaishakh, Aseer Payyannur, Pranav, Vigil Anjarakandy, Ubaid from Kodagu, Firoz, Moydu Abbas, Ziyad and Jameer Alika. Most of them reside in different districts of neighbouring Kerala.

The photographs and details have been circulated throughout Karnataka and Kerala, and posters with their images have been displayed in public places. Search operations carried out jointly with Kerala Police at various locations have so far failed to locate the accused. Special police teams are continuing their efforts in Kerala and Kodagu district. The robbery occurred in the early hours of June 29 when the gang intercepted the trader’s car on the national highway near Baikampady on the outskirts of Mangaluru. The assailants assaulted the trader, abducted his wife and child along with the vehicle, and escaped with around 180 grams of gold, cash worth approximately Rs. 23 lakh and other valuables. The family was later abandoned by the roadside about two kilometres from the crime scene. Three individuals have already been taken into custody for allegedly providing logistical support to the main gang. They have been identified as Nimil from Thalassery in Kerala and Irshad and Mustafa, both residents of Madikeri in Karnataka. The Panambur Police are handling the investigation, and efforts continue to trace and arrest the remaining accused.

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The Hans India