Mangaluru: After a hot chase that lasted a few hours, the district police arrested the assailants of activist Deepak Rao (30), a resident of Katipalla. Police had to open nine rounds of fire before they finally managed to nab them. In fact, the assailants had tried to kill police twice during the operation.

Informing the same to reporters at the Police Commissioner’s office here on Thursday, ADGP Kamal Pant said that soon after some locals informed the police that four assailants had brutally assaulted a youth and fled in a white Maruthi Swift car, the same information was transmitted through wireless.

Police then set up a nakabandi. Home Guard Harish, attached to Mulki police station who was on duty at Muru Kaveri junction, was the first to spot the assailants’ car.

Based on the information given by Harish, Mulki Police Sub Inspector Sheethal Halagur and ASI Chandrashekar chased the car.

When Halagur tried to stop the car at Ullanje near Kinnigoli, the accused tried to mow down the police. Halagur managed to jump into the drain and survived. He then opened five rounds of fire from his service revolver and chased the car in another private car. After chasing the vehicle for over 25 km, the police managed to catch up with the car as they could not manoeuvre past a narrow bridge near Mijar.

While the police nabbed Mohammed Naushad (22), a resident of Mijar and Irshan alias Irsha (21), a resident of Krishnapura 4th block, Mohammed Nawaz alias Pinki Nawaz (23) and Rizwan alias Rijju (24), both residents of Katipalla managed to flee the spot, informed City Police Commissioner T R Suresh.

CCB Inspector Shantharam and Panambur Inspector K M Rafeeq, who learnt about the presence of Pinki Nawaz and Rizwan at Daddiguri near Badaga Yedapadav, rushed to the spot. When the duo rushed to the spot and tried to arrest them, both tried to assault the police with swords.

As a result, both police officers had to open two rounds of fire for self-protection. In the melee, both Pinki Nawaz and Rizwan suffered bullet injuries. Both have been admitted to the hospital and are recovering.

While there are 12 cases pending against Pinki Nawaz, there are four cases including murder and murder attempt cases pending against Rizwan. Similarly, there are three cases including murder, murder attempt and rape pending against Naushad and murder and murder attempt cases pending against Irshan.

On behalf of DGP, ADGP Kamal Pant handed over a cash award of Rs 1.2 lakh to the police officers and home guard. They included Police Inspector Shantharam, Inspector K M Rafeeq, Sub Inspector Sheethal, ASI Chandrashekar, Head Constable Mahesh, Constable Suresh and Home Guard Harish.
CID IGP M Chandrashekar and SP C H Sudhir Kumar Reddy were present at the press meet..