Mangaluru Police arrest absconding murder accused in Bengaluru

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths of Mangaluru Police have arrested Sophian alias Kotreshi, 31, a native of Ballari, at a hideout near Shyampura Railway gate in Deevara Jeevanahalli in Bengaluru. He was absconding in a murder case registered in Surathkal Police Station in 2017.

In a press note, the police said in 2012, Kotreshi smothered a woman to death in the Brucepet Police Station limits of Ballari city after the woman identified him following the theft of her gold chain. For four years, he was in Ballari prison, where he came in contact with the notorious crime accused Safwan Hussain. Using Hussain’s help, he was released on bail. He then changed his name to Sophian and came to Mangaluru to work with Hussain. He failed to appear before the court in Ballari.