Kotekaru robbery case accused attacks police, attemps escape, fired at

Three policemen were injured when one of the accused arrested in connection with the Kotekaru Agricultural Co-operative Society robbery case attacked them during the spot inspection near Ullal on Tuesday, according to Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal. A Police Inspector fired at the leg of the accused, Kannan Mani, 36, when he tried to escape. All the four were admitted to Yenepoya Hospital at Deralakatte for treatment, he said.

Three policemen were injured when one of the accused arrested in connection with the Kotekaru Agricultural Co-operative Society robbery case attacked them during the spot inspection near Ullal on Tuesday, according to Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal. A Police Inspector fired at the leg of the accused, Kannan Mani, 36, when he tried to escape. All the four were admitted to Yenepoya Hospital at Deralakatte for treatment, he said.

The Commissioner said in a release that Mani, a resident of Tilak Nagar, Chembur, Mumbai, was among the three accused who were arrested from Tamil Nadu on Monday. He was brought to Mangaluru in custody and was being questioned.

When the police were conducting the spot inspection near Alankaru Gudde, K.C. Road, within the jurisdiction of Ullal Police Station at about 4.20 p.m., Mani attacked police personnel Anjanappa and Nithin with a broken beer bottle found at the spot and attempted to escape custody after pushing H.N. Balakrishna, the Investigation Officer and Ullal Police Inspector. The accused also attempted to stab the Investigation Officer.

The accompanying CCB unit Police Inspector warned the accused and fired a shot in the air. But the accused continued his assault and attempted to escape. In response, the CCB Police Inspector fired at Mani’s leg, subduing him and taking him into custody.

A case is being registered at Ullal Police Station and further investigation is on, the Commissioner said.

The other two accused arrested in the case on Monday are Murugandi Thevar, 36, and Yosuva Rajendran, 35. All three were arrested from Padmaneri village in Thiruvanalli taluk of Tamil Nadu.

The robbery of gold and other valuables valued at about ₹4 crore was reported at the Kotekaru Agricultural Co-operative Society, K.C. Road, near Ullal, on January 17 when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was attending a function in Mangaluru.