3 held for stealing black pepper

Madikeri: Virajpet Rural police have arrested three persons in the black pepper theft case.Those arrested are K B Shafiq K B, a native of Thithimathi Nokya village, currently residing in 1st Perumbadi RG village, Darshan Nayak, 25, a resident of 1st Perumbadi RG village, and Mohammed Shakir, 31, a native of Mysuru, currently residing in Edappadi in Manandavadi in neighbouring Kerala.Lehar Ganapathy, a resident of Ammathi Kannangala village in Virajpet taluk, had stocked black pepper weighing about 300kg at a coffee field. After the consignment went missing on March 9, a case was registered. Police arrested the accused in Panchavalli in Hunsur taluk in neighbouring Mysuru district. Two cars and one bike, which were allegedly used in the crime, have been seized.The trio told police that they have sold 215kg of black pepper in Kerala. It came to light that a case of bike lifting was registered against them in Hunsur police station, and a case of 75kg pepper theft and car theft in Suntikoppa station, police said.Gun training campKodagu district police has organised a civilian gun training camp in Madikeri. SP RN Bindu Mani inaugurated the training programme and urged the participants to be aware of the Indian Arms Act. Speaking after the inauguration, she said that Kodagu is the district with the highest number of guns in the state. She said the civilian gun training programme has not been held in the district for the past two years. Two teams are being trained this year. District Armed Forces police inspector HB Ganesh conducted the training.