CCB arrests absconding accused involved in several serious crimes

The Central Crime Branch sleuths have arrested Safwan Hussain, 42, of Haleyangadi, who is accused in 31 criminal cases, including a case of kidnap and gang rape, two cases of murder, four attempts to murder, 17 cases of extortion/dacoity, five cases of assault on police men and two theft cases.

Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said Hussain was absconding for the past nine years.

Mr. Reddy told reporters on Wednesday that Hussain, along with his alleged associates, murdered ‘Lefty’ Safwan and abandoned the body in Agumbe Ghat in 2017. Hussain then moved to Andhra Pradesh and changed his name to Ummar Mohammed Nassir. He obtained an Aadhaar Card and a Passport in the new name and proceeded to Saudi Arabia. While taking up small works and working as driver in Saudi Arabia, he extorted businessmen in Mangaluru.

Mr. Reddy said CCB sleuths traced Hussain in Rayachoti in Andhra Pradesh and arrested him. The sleuths handed Hussain over to Mulky police for further investigation. People who helped Hussain in getting fake documents and those who harboured him will be traced and prosecuted.

Hussain was convicted of the murder of car driver Praveen in 2008, which was registered in Mulki police station. He was also convicted in a dacoity case registered in Udupi’s Karkala police station in 2008. Trial was on in 13 cases, including the gang rape of a medical student in the Konaje police station limits in 2013. The trial in the gang rape case had reached the final stages, in his absentia. With his arrest, the trial will be held afresh in presence of Hussian, Mr. Reddy said.