Belthangadi: Compol, DK SP dismiss rumours about Naxal presence

Dakshina Kannada District Superintendent of Police Rishyant and Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal rubbished rumors that Naxalites had visited a residence in Belthangadi’s Kuthlur here on Tuesday night and clarified that the police personnel had visited the house for an ongoing investigation.

The confusion began after a Kuthlur resident Josi Antony reported that a few strangers, including a woman, had knocked on his door on Tuesday night, claiming to be police officers. Josi however became suspicious and suspected them to be Naxals as they were not wearing police uniforms. He thus called the police emergency number 112. Belthangadi police personnel rushed to his residence as soon as they got this information.

It was later gathered that Josi had entered into an agreement to sell a plot of land to Suhana of Bangalore for Rs 45 lakhs and had collected a cheque payment of Rs 24 lakh as part of the deal. Similarly, he also entered into an agreement to sell the same plot to a Sarath from Bengaluru for Rs 48 lakhs and received Rs 19 lakhs via cheque.

A complaint about the fraud was lodged against Josi at Moodbidri Police Station on November 17. The police tried to contact Josi over the phone for questioning but he was not reachable.

On November 21, the police along with the complainant went to Josi’s house to serve a notice but he was not at home. When they inquired with the locals, they came to know that Josi would be available at his house after 9 pm. Hence they returned later that day to serve him the notice but Josi did not open the door suspecting them to be Naxals.