Rowdy arrested in Andhra Pradesh

Mangaluru: CCB police arrested a notorious rowdy-sheeter and key accused in the 2013 Deralakatte gang-rape case, who was absconding for nearly 9 years. The arrest was made by a CCB team under the leadership of DCP (law and order) Mithun HNThe accused has been identified as Safwan Hussain, alias Hussain, alias Subhash, alias Rajik, alias Naseer,42, a resident of Haleangady in Mangaluru. City police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH told reporters on Wednesday, that Safwan was involved in 31 criminal cases, including two murders, four attempt to murder cases, gang rape, dacoity, kidnap, extortion, threat, assault on police personnel, attack on jail inmates, robbery, preventing officials from performing duty, among others in Mangaluru city, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The police commissioner said Safwan was an accused in car driver Praveen's kidnap and murder case registered at Mulki police station in 2008. In this connection, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the high court on Feb 28, 2020. In another dacoity case registered in Karkala, he was sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment. About 13 cases against him are currently at the trial stage, while courts issued arrest warrants in several cases, five cases were declared long-pending cases (LPC). He is also accused in the 2017 murder of Lefty Safwan, and was absconding since then. The victim was kidnapped, assaulted and murdered, and his body was thrown in the Agumbe Ghat. The commissioner said that after evading arrest, Safwan fled to Andhra Pradesh, where he assumed a false identity under the name Ummar Mohammed Nasir, using a fake Aadhaar card. He later obtained a passport under the fake identity, and lived abroad since 2018. During his stay in Saudi Arabia, he allegedly engaged in extortion by threatening Muslim businessmen and and others from Mangaluru. He did odd jobs and even worked as a driver.Despite being abroad, he occasionally returned to India. Based on credible information, the CCB team traced him to Rayachoti in Andhra Pradesh, and arrested him on Tuesday. The commissioner said Safwan is also a key accused in the Deralakatte gang-rape case. Since he was absconding, the trial against other accused persons reached the final stage. With his arrest, legal proceedings against him will now resume. Police said Safwan was associated with the Target gang, and was also linked to an attempt to murder case involving Target Iliyas. Recently, some youths posted provocative messages on social media, following which police registered cases and arrested three persons. He will be handed over to Mulki police for further legal action. Commissioner Reddy said action will also be initiated against those who helped him abscond, create fake identity documents, obtain a passport, and remain in contact with him.