Mangaluru : The Mangaluru North sub-division of Anti-Rowdy Squad has arrested members of the gang that allegedly executed thefts in the Mangaluru South region, the city police said on Sunday.

Police have identified the accused as Abdul Ameer, 20, a resident of Katipalla, Abdul Bilal, 19, from Mulki and Tanveer, 24, a resident of Krishnapur. The trio have admitted to having executed thefts in Panambur and Surathkal police station limits.

On January 10, 56-year-old Shamshuddin Ashamfir Mujavar, a truck driver hailing from Vijayapura, was taking a nap in his vehicle near the Nandaneshwar temple in Panambur. The trio, who arrived at the spot, demanded cash and his mobile phone, after threatening him with a knife. When Shamshuddin refused to oblige, they slashed him on the forehead with the knife, inflicting a wound, and snatched away his phone.

Based on a police complaint, the police launched a search and detained the accused within a couple of days. While being interrogated, the trio revealed that they had stolen batteries from vehicles near Surathkal in the past.

A mobile phone, two scooters, a goods autorickshaw and vehicle battery were recovered from them. The total cost of the seized items is estimated at Rs 2.5 lakh.