Karnataka - Bangalore

51 four-wheelers recovered, six held

BANGALORE: The Central Crime Branch police busted an inter-State gang and recovered 51 four-wheelers worth over Rs. 3 crore and arrested six persons.

The police got a clue about the activities of the gang after the arrest of Lateef (38), a resident of Kasaragod in Kerala, in July when he was allegedly attempting to dispose of a motorcycle in the city.

Lateef revealed the activities of the gang, which led to the arrest of his associates. The police gave the names of other accused as Rajan alias Alex (44), a native of Kollam district, Kerala; Javid Khan (24) and Raju Yadav (25), both natives of Uttar Pradesh and residents of Mumbai; Sheik Arif (22), a resident of Tipu Nagar, Bangarpet, Kolar district; and Abdul Rashid Sheik (42), a resident of Karwar.

Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari told presspersons here on Friday that 51 vehicles had been recovered following the arrest of the gang members.

Lateef was allegedly involved in car theft cases reported from Kerala and Karwar. Though convicted and sentenced for three years in a car theft case in Kasaragod in 2003, he escaped when the police were bringing Lateef to Karwar from Kannur Jail. Then, he joined hands with Alex and continued to steal cars, Mr. Bidari said.

On the other hand, Alex was allegedly involved in more than 50 cases of car theft and jurisdictional courts had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him.

The CCB police arrested seven persons on charges of burglary and theft and recovered valuables worth Rs. 52 lakh.

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