Mangaluru: Fugitive murder accused arrested after three years
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Jul 1(PTI): A murder accused who had been absconding for nearly three years after his bail was cancelled by the Supreme Court was arrested near Mangaluru, police said on Tuesday.
The accused was arrested on June 30 and produced before the magistrate today, following which he was sent to judicial custody, they said.
According to police, the accused, Mohammad Mustafa alias Musta, had earlier obtained bail from the Karnataka High Court in 2020 in connection with a daylight murder that took place near Mulki Vijay Sannidhi Highway.
However, the Supreme Court cancelled his bail on April 22, 2022, following which he allegedly fled abroad using a fake passport.
Mustafa is accused of involvement in the murder of Abdul Latif, who was killed on June 5, 2020, allegedly by a group of ten persons. A charge sheet was filed, and the case is currently under trial.
Police sources stated that Mustafa had escaped to Oman using forged documents and illegally re-entered India via Nepal in April 2024. A special team tracked him down and apprehended him on June 30 near his native village of Pakshikere in Mulki taluk.
Separate cases have been registered against him under various sections for illegal immigration, use of forged documents, and absconding from trial.
Police also confirmed that he faces a total of nine criminal cases across multiple districts, including Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, and Udupi.
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Karnataka: Home Department asks motorists to drive on highways with caution to avoid robbery
Belagavi: The Home Department has advised motorists to stay alert while travelling on national and state highways, warning that gangs involved in robbery and extortion have been active in several stretches. It said people should be extra cautious if anyone tries to stop their vehicle in isolated areas.
Replying to an unstarred question on Thursday, the department said Karnataka has recorded 403 highway robbery cases in the past three years. According to the data, national highways saw 81 extortion and 23 robbery cases in 2023, followed by 66 extortion and 16 robbery cases in 2024. Until November 15 this year, 51 extortion and 14 robbery cases have been reported.
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On state highways, 39 extortion and 17 robberies were reported in 2023, while 2024 saw 35 extortion and 22 robbery cases. In 2025 so far, 20 extortion and 19 robbery cases have taken place. The department noted that curbing highway robberies remains a major challenge for the police.
To tackle the issue, police stations have been directed to set up regular checkpoints on stretches of highways passing through their limits. Suspicious individuals and vehicles are being checked. Two-wheelers have been allocated to every station for night patrol, and staff have been instructed to conduct night rounds using vehicles fitted with sirens and red lights.
