Bengaluru man, 2 others arrested for abducting cousin for Rs 50 lakh ransom

Crime

Moin Khan was allegedly upset with his father and uncle for not allowing him to take over the management of the family restaurant.

TNM Staff

The Bengaluru Police on Sunday arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly abducting his 13-year-old cousin and demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. The Banaswadi police, who nabbed Moin Khan, rescued the boy within 12 hours of receiving the ransom call. Moin Khan was allegedly upset with his father and uncle for not allowing him to take over management of running their family restaurant. An aspiring hotelier, Moin Khan allegedly decided to set up his own business with the ransom money, TOI reported. The Banaswadi Police arrested Moin Khan and two autorickshaw drivers, Ayaz (35) and Mubarak (30) for allegedly assisting Moin in the abduction. The little boy is the son of Javed Ali, Moin’s uncle. At around 2.30 pm on Saturday, allegedly upon Moin’s instructions, Ayaz and Mubarak drove a car and stopped at the street where the boy’s house is located. While he was playing outside, Ayaz and Mubarak allegedly asked him the directions to the family restaurant and asked the boy if he would guide them. The boy allegedly got into the car and the duo took him to a house in KG Halli, The Hindu reported. Ayaz and Mubarak then called Javed Ali and informed him that his son had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh, The Hindu reported. Banaswadi Police say that Javed Ali initially disregarded the phone call as a prank and did not believe Ayaz and Mubarak. However, a few minutes after the phone call, Javed received a message on WhatsApp, which contained the picture of his son and a ransom demand. The message also instructed Javed to pay the ransom of Rs 50 lakh within 12 hours. An unsuspecting Javed reached out to Moin Khan for help and the duo went to Banaswadi Police Station and filed a complaint. “The accused was trying to mislead the investigation. To divert us from suspecting him, he kept misleading the probe,” Banaswadi police told TNM. The Banaswadi Police formed three teams under ACP Ravi Prasad and began checking Javed’s call record details. After finding the number, they extracted call records of the abductors’ phones and found that they were in touch with someone within the police station,” The Hindu reported. The Banaswadi police immediately took Moin Khan into custody and began interrogating him on the suspicion that he contracted the abduction. By 5.30 pm, Moin had given up the boy’s location to the police. The Banaswadi Police reached the spot in KG Halli, where the boy was held captive. Mubarak allegedly tried to assault the cops when they opened fire and injured his leg. According to the TOI report, Moin’s father and Javed had allegedly refrained from handing over the responsibility of running the business to Moin. He allegedly promised Rs 3 lakh to Ayaz and Mubarak and had decided to open his own restaurant with the ransom money. Moin allegedly offered the names of Javed’s rivals by giving the police information about former employees of the restaurant, who may have held a grudge against Javed. Moin, Ayaz and Mubarak have been booked under sections 359 (kidnapping), 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing duty) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.  

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42-year-old US national surrenders for shooting Indian man in California

Crime

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Saturday visited the family of 25-year-old Abhishek, who lived in Mysuru.

Soumya Chatterjee

Two days after 25-year-old Mysuru man Abhishek Sudesh Bhat was shot dead in California in the United States, police have arrested a suspect after he himself turned him in. The accused has been identified as 42-year-old Eric Devon Turner, reported San Bernardino Sun. The reason or motive for the crime is yet to be ascertained. San Bernardino police are yet to give a formal statement other than the arrest was made after Eric turned himself in. Abhishek was studying for his Masters degree in Computer Science from California State University (CSU) in San Bernardino and worked part-time in a motel. Multiple reports said that Abhishek was killed as he had objected to Eric overstaying on his property. His colleagues in the establishment had found him lying in a pool of blood at around 11:30 pm local time. Also read: Indian man studying in California shot dead by unknown assailant It was earlier reported that he had completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Vidya Vikas Institute of Engineering and Technology in Mysuru and had shifted to the US around 18 months ago to pursue higher education. He was president of Kuvempunagar in Mysuru and is survived by his family comprising of his father Sudesh Chand, who is a yoga instructor at the Upanishad Yoga Centre in Kuvempunagar, and mother, Nandini Aithal, who is a housewife. Speaking to Star of Mysore, “After killing Abhishek, the killer fled towards Los Angeles in a vehicle and efforts are on to nab him,” Ramnath, a member of the family said. He added that the local police in the US have informed the family that the post mortem procedures will take another eight days and further details about the cause of death will only emerge after December 9. The family was visited by Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Saturday who assured that the government will help in every possible way. The family has expressed their wish to carry out the final rites there itself but they are yet to be given a go-ahead by the US and Indian authorities. Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha had also offered help and assured that he had held talks with top leaders of the government to expedite the family’s passage to the US.

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Karnataka bye-polls: Not averse to joining hands with JD(S) again, says Congress

Politics

In the upcoming bye-polls, the BJP needs to win at least six out of 15 seats to remain in power.

PTI

Sounding upbeat after forming a coalition government in Maharashtra, the Congress in Karnataka made it clear on Sunday that it was not averse to joining hands with JD(S) once again, in case the ruling BJP fails to garner required number of seats to be in majority after the December 5 bypolls. JD(S) leaders have already dropped enough hints about the party being open to such a possibility. The Congress and JD(S), who ran a coalition government for 14 months in the state and contested Lok Sabha polls in alliance, parted ways after the collapse of the HD Kumaraswamy ministry in July following the rebellion by 17 MLAs, and are contesting the bye-polls independently. The ruling BJP, led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, needs to win at least six seats in the bypolls to 15 constituencies to remain in a majority in the 224-member assembly, which would still have two vacant seats -- Maski and RR Nagar. "In order to protect the constitution, democracy and to provide social justice with secular principles, when the situation arises, we will take necessary steps after discussing with our allies and UPA partners on such a matter," veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Let's see what happens in the future... winning in 15 seats is what we are looking for.. we will let you know. We will give you a correct picture on December 9.. we will give you good news." Kharge, who is also Congress General Secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, where the party formed a coalition government in alliance with Shiv Sena and NCP and successfully managed to keep BJP out of power, noted that the party took such a decision in the neighboring state to "protect" democracy and in the interest of the people. "Look at Maharashtra, where Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress have formed a government together. To tell you the truth, our President (Sonia Gandhi) was not in favour of it and wanted us to be in opposition, but the people, parties with progressive thinking told us to look at keeping BJP away from power..," he said. Under pressure from legislators, and other parties including leftist parties, a decision was taken with an intention to keep out BJP, which is "fascist" and functions against the democracy, he added. Another senior Congress leader G Parameshwara too said there was a possibility for Congress and JD(S) coming together if the situation arises, and it would be examined and decided by the high command. He said, "After results are out on December 9, if Congress gets more seats and BJP gets less, government will collapse, then we will have two options - one not forming the government and staying out, while the second was to join hands with JD(S) to form a coalition government again." "There is possibility of coming together.. Are we in a position to face mid term polls immediately? Should we impose another election on the people? I think we may look at the possibilities of going for a coalition government once again, but the decision will be taken by the high command looking at pros and cons, as they did in Maharashtra," he added. Parameshwara, a former state Congress chief was the Deputy Chief Minister in the previous Congress-JD(S) coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy. JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda in a cryptic remark made in the context of the by-polls had recently said Congress President Sonia Gandhi's decision after the bypolls should be watched out for, leading to speculation about the possible coming together of the two parties once again, if the situation arose. Gowda's son Kumaraswamy too had said there would be a stable government in the state after the bypolls, but not necessarily that of BJP, as he asked media persons to wait for December 9 bypoll results.

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Bodies of Kerala techie couple found in Bengaluru, families to be questioned

Crime

The couple, who were reportedly upset over opposition to their marriage from their families, had gone missing a few weeks ago.

Soumya Chatterjee

Sreedevi Jayarajan

Police in Bengaluru are set to probe the families of a couple from Kerala whose decomposed bodies were found on November 29. The couple, who were reportedly upset over oppostion to their marriage from their families, had gone missing a few weeks ago. The couple, Abhijit Mohan (25 years old) and Srilakshmi (21 years old), both hailing from Thrissur district, were working with an IT major in Electronic City in Bengaluru. Their death came to light only when a shepherd found their highly decomposed bodies on November 29 and alerted the police. Hebbagodi police in rural Bengaluru district have so far registered only a case of unnatural death. The exact time and cause of their death is yet to be ascertained. Speaking to TNM, the investigating officer Shankar M, said, “The couple went missing 40 days ago from the Parappana Agrahara police station jurisdiction where they were both staying. The family of the woman filed a missing persons complaint in this station. Three days ago we found the bodies from the bushes in the Chintala Madiwala area in Anekal taluk. Their bodies were found near the bushes in an open area. Both bodies were highly decomposed.” Abhijit and Srilakshmi were staying in different paying guest accommodations in Parappana Agrahara Police Station limits near the Central Jail. According to reports, her family had opposed the marriage and also threatened action against Abhijit. The last call that Srilakshmi made to her family was on October 9. On October 11, the couple went missing. Based on a missing person’s complaint from Srilakshmi’s family, police had tried to trace their mobile phone locations, but failed. Even meeting their friends and colleagues yielded no results. According to one report, Srilakshmi contacted her uncle on November 23 and said thanked the family for torturing them. She became incommunicado after this.  The couple were reportedly moving locations and lived in various lodges in Electronic City and Whitefield areas of greater Bengaluru from the time they disappeared. The IO added, “We are still awaiting the post-mortem report. Based on that we will plan our investigations. We will go to Kerala in the coming days. There is nothing more that we can share as of now.” He also confirmed that no family members have been questioned yet.  "If we find enough proof we will add the charge of abetment to suicide," the IO said.

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If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. 

 

Tamil Nadu: 

State health department suicide helpline number - 104

Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in TN)

 

Telangana:  

Telangana government suicide prevention toll free no - 104 

Roshni- 040-66202000, 66202001

SEVA- 09441778290, 040 - 27504682 (between 9 AM and 7 PM) 

 

Karnataka:

Sahai : 24-hour helpline numbers: 080- 65000111, 080-65000222

 

Kerala:

Maithri helpline - 0484-2540530

Chaithram helpline: 0484-2361161

Both are 24-hour helpline numbers. 

 

Andhra Pradesh: 

Life Suicide Prevention Helpline No.78930-78930 

Roshni - 

Helpline 1: 9166202000 

Helpline 2: 9127848584

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'Concentration of minorities in areas a matter of concern': BJP leader BL Santosh

Controversy

Santosh was speaking to journalist Ajith Hanumakkanavar at an event titled ‘Demography — Dividend or Danger’ at the Mangaluru Lit Fest.

TNM Staff

In a rather controversial statement, Karnataka BJP leader and national general secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh on Saturday said that the concentration of the minority population in certain pockets of the country is a “matter of concern." Santosh, who was promoted in mid-July to the second most coveted post in the party, made these comments on Saturday as he was speaking at the Mangaluru Lit Fest. Santosh was previously a joint General Secretary (organisation) and is considered to be bitter rivals with Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa within the party. The BJP leader was speaking to journalist Ajith Hanumakkanavar during an event titled ‘Demography — Dividend or Danger,’ at the Lit Fest.  According to reports, Santosh said, “The concentration of Muslims and Christians is high in some parts of the country, which is dangerous.” He also suggested that the central government will come up with an action plan to “deal with the situation” as he deemed the “concentration of minorities” as a “threat” that needs to be resolved. He added that 50% of the Christian population in India is concentrated in the four southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. He added that these four states only account for less than 30% of the total population. Similarly, he said the Christian population in the North-East makes up 37% of the country’s Christian population. Further 81% of Tamil Nadu’s Christian population was also concentrated only in the three districts of Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore, Santosh said. Santosh also added that the government and the society should take the issue seriously and address the same.   He emphasised concentrations and not numbers are the worrying part, reported The Hindu.  Speaking about the Muslim population, he said that the community is mostly residing in the Malabar belt from Mangaluru in coastal Karnataka to north Kerala. He attributed the demand for a separate north Malabar state by Muslim Youth League was due to the “Muslim concentration.” He, however, suggested that the BJP does not worry about growing numbers of minorities but only their concentration. As part of the same conversation, Santosh also said that the NRC (National Register of Citizens) was not a measure to target minorities.

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Bengaluru cop stabbed by accused while taking them back to police station

Crime

Police said the injured cop, who was bringing the accused back to the police station, is stable and is undergoing treatment in a private hospital

TNM Staff

The police in Bengaluru are on the lookout for two men who allegedly stabbed a head constable while he was taking them to the RT Nagar Police Station. They have been booked for attempt to murder. The two accused— Mardhan and Kandala— were detained by the police after there were complaints that some men were harassing women in the locality in the evening. Head Constable Nagaraj, 40, and another policeman Chandrashekhar was visiting Chamundi Nagar to verify a passport applicant’s background. It was then that the police were told by locals about the incidents of harassment. While the two policemen were making their way back to the police station on their bike at around 1:15 pm, they reportedly spotted the two accused in a group of men who were seen harassing women. When the police tried to catch hold of them, the men tried to run away, but the police managed to apprehend two of the men.  Speaking with The Hindu, a senior policeman said that while Chandrasekhar left for the police station on his bike, Nagaraj hired an autorickshaw to bring the two accused men with him. It was then in the autorickshaw that the policeman was reportedly assaulted. According to reports, Kandala had allegedly stabbed Nagaraj with a knife before he made his way out of the vehicle.  With the bleeding policeman in his vehicle, the auto driver rushed him to the hospital. The police said the injured cop is stable and is undergoing treatment in a private hospital but there seems to be a procedural lapse. A police officer speaking with The Hindu stated that the cops should have ensured that the two accused were unarmed before they were taken into custody. Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, the policemen identified the group of men as “ganja smokers” and said the four men were all around the age of 25.

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KPL betting case: BCCI, ICC reach out to Bengaluru police, ensure cooperation

Crime

Run by the KSCA, KPL, an intra-state T20 tournament, has been mired in betting and spot-fixing controversies.

IANS

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reached out to Bengaluru Police, promising co-operation in probing the multi-faceted Karnataka Premier League (KPL) betting scam, an official said on Saturday. "The ICC has contacted Bengaluru Police regarding the KPL betting scam. We are in co-operation with each other," Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kuldeep Jain, confirmed with IANS. In 2000, ICC had established the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), which works with multiple stakeholders, including member boards, players, support staff, law enforcement agencies and betting regulators to thwart corruption in the game. Alex Marshall is the General Manager of ACU, while Ronnie Flanagan is its Chairman. Similarly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also contacted the city police in connection with the scandal-hit local T20 tournament it had approved. "BCCI has extended all co-operation... They are also collecting information from us and we are on the same lines against the KPL betting scam," said Jain. Jain said that BCCI officials have met the police in Bengaluru in an informal meeting. BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit also wrote to the city police promising co-operation, Jain said. According to Kuldeep Jain, some retired cricketers came forward to help the police in nipping the betting evil in the bud. Meanwhile, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Treasurer Vinaya Mruthyunjaya said the state cricket body had no information of the ICC contacting the police. "We have no information of ICC having contacted the police," Mruthyunjaya told IANS. He did not clarify if officials from KSCA, a body affiliated to the BCCI, had accompanied the BCCI officials while meeting the police in the city, and the level of cooperation and coordination among the ICC, BCCI and KSCA pertaining to the KPL betting scam. It is also not known how much data in GB volume has been submitted to the police, who sought complete details of KPL teams, scorecards, video footages, phone numbers and other details linked to the tournament. There is also no clarity if ICC or BCCI had given any specific instructions to the state association in connection with the KPL. The senior police officer said the investigation into the KPL betting scam was continuing, without confirming if any of the female escorts or cheer girls deployed for "honeytrapping" cricketers were identified or arrested. Run by the KSCA, KPL, an intra-state T20 tournament, has been mired in betting, honeytrapping and spot-fixing controversies. The betting scandal led to the arrest of a string of cricketers, bookies, team owners and others. Started in 2008 and envisioned to be a feeder tournament to the cashrich BCCI-owned Indian Premier League (IPL), KPL has emerged as a leading local franchise-based league.        

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