KODAGU LADS AS DACOITS IN BANGALORE;

Madikeri November 21, 2007

In a swift police action in Bangalore, police have arrested nine youngsters involved in thefts and robbery. Among the nine, four turned out to be from Kodagu.

The city crime branch police arrested the nine accused after collecting information from Kodagu, Mandya, Mysore and Bangalore and recovered rupees thirty lakhs in cash, stolen vehicles, motorbikes, laptops, 608 mobile phones and other valuable materials.

The accused arrested in Enlur road in HAL colony at Bangalore yesterday are Sanju alias Cauveri from T.Shettigeri, Devaiah alias Don from T.Shettigeri, Rajesh from Hudikeri and Chittiappa alias Marimanja from Tavalageri. All these four accused belong to Kodagu and are at the age group of 20 to 27.

Five others arrested in this connection are B.R.manjunath alias boxer Manja , Shivanagendra, Divakar, Ahmad and nagaraj.

According to police, Boxer Manja used to organize the crimes and the group is involved in seven dacoity cases conducted in Bangalore and other cities. The accused used to loot people found in lonely areas, offer them drop before attacking and decamping with the booty. Way lie vehicles etc. Police said that the accused tried to attack police at the time of arrest.

The main crimes listed are lifting an innova car after attacking the driver during 2006 in front of regency hotel, Looting of laptop after attacking one Sridar Hegde, looting one Shariff and stealing a Tavera car, stealing rupees eight lakhs from one rajshekar at Ilwala in Mysore, looting rupees thirty lakhs in cash from Shoukath at Chennapatna and so on.

According to police, three more accused from the gang have escaped.

Joint commissioner B.Hosur, DCP Ravikante Gowda, ACP B.K.Shjivaram and team conducted the operation.

KANNADA PARISHAD TO SUPPORT CAUSE OF KODAGU;

Chairman of State kannada ahitya parishad, Chandra Shekar Patil said that he will lend his support to the cause of Kodagu, if they organize rallys in Bangalore to press their demands.

Addressing scribes at Bangalore yesterday after attending a function at Somwarpet, he said that it is more effective if people hold rallies in Bangalore to press their demands instead of holding agitations in Kodagu. Referring to jamma land protests going on, he opined that the government will know of their demands only if such protests are held in Bangalore. He said that the protest news appearing in state newspapers cannot attract attention as they will appear with little prominence in city additions.

Answering a querry, he regretted that the leaders who take in the neme of constitution are resorting to conduct ‘ homas’ inside Vidna Soudha’. He said that though running a coalition government was advisable, BJP – JDS is an unhealthy alliance.

He announced that the 74th kannada Sahitya Sammelan will be held without fail on December 15th at Udupi, ispite of political turmoils in the state.

Earlier, addressing the valedictory function of kannada rajyotsava at Somwarpet, Chandra Shekar said that lack of will and accountability from representatives from Kodagu has left the district undeveloped. He regretted that the district has hundred problems inspite of completing 51 years after Karnatak Ekikarana. Unless the elected representatives pursue matters in the cabinet meetings, things will not change, he said. He gave example of Tamilanadu legislatures who fight together for a cause, forgetting their political differences.

He also said that Kannada is not given due prominence as governments at Karnataka and centre are not ruled by single parties. He cautioned people against the damage that could be caused by the non Kannada speaking legislatures.

Kodagu Kannada Sahitya Parishad president T.P.Ramesh, Jalaja Shekar, Syed irfan, C.N.Sunil were on the dais, representing Parishad, press club and press trust.