Mangaluru police fire at accused in Kotekar bank robbery case after alleged escape bid
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Feb 1 (PTI): A suspect in the Kotekar Co-opeartive bank dacoity case was injured in a police shooting while allegedly attempting to flee during an evidence recovery operation in Ullal.
The accused, identified as Murugandi Thevar, had been taken into police custody until February 3 as part of the investigation into the robbery case registered at the Ullal Police Station.
During interrogation, Murugandi disclosed details regarding the planning and execution of the dacoity, including the involvement of a local associate, Shashi Thevar.
According to a press release, issued by police on Saturday, Murugandi had allegedly admitted that the trio had convened in November 2024 near Ajjanadka, within the Ullal Police Station limits, to plan the crime.
During the meeting, Shashi allegedly provided a firearm and shared information about the bank’s security lapses, which facilitated the robbery.
The police said Murugandi further claimed that Shashi had hidden the gun near the same location.
Acting on this information, a team led by the Ullal police inspector, accompanied by a sub-inspector and two constables, took Murugandi to the spot for evidence recovery and reconstruction of the crime sequence.
While at the scene, Murugandi allegedly assaulted Constable Manjunath, who was holding his restraint chain.
Police said he struck the constable and attempted to strangle him with the chain before making a bid to escape.
The Ullal police inspector initially fired a warning shot into the air.
However, when Murugandi continued to flee, the police fired a second shot, hitting him below the knee to prevent his escape.
Both the constable and Murugandi were taken to Yennepoya Hospital for treatment.
Police confirmed that their injuries are not life-threatening, and they are currently under medical care.
Incidentally, another accused, Kannan Mani, was also shot and injured by police when he attempted to escape after perpetrating the crime.
Police have stated that a separate case will be registered, in connection, with the escape attempt and subsequent action.
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One person taken into custody after woman found dead in Himachal forest
Nahan (HP) (PTI): A suspect has been taken into custody after a woman's partially burnt body was found in a forest near a police battalion camp in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmour district, police said.
The body of the woman, who is stated to be in her late 30s, was spotted in the dense forest of the Karaunde Wali Ghati area near Dhaula Kuan by locals on Wednesday morning. The identity of the deceased has not yet been established.
The accused in the case was taken into custody at Bata Bridge in Paonta Sahib on Wednesday evening following scanning of the CCTV footage of the area coupled with inputs from Haryana Police, police said.
According to police, the accused is a resident of Barara town in Ambala district of Haryana. A case of kidnapping has already been registered against him in Ambala.
Sirmour District Superintendent of Police Nischint Singh Negi said one person has been taken into custody following contact with Haryana Police.
Postmortem examination of the woman is scheduled to be conducted on Thursday at the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Government Medical College at Nahan.
Police are currently investigating whether the woman was murdered in Barara itself, and if her body was subsequently dumped in the Paonta forest and set on fire.
