Crime branch nabs fugitive Rohidas, 3 accomplices

MANGALORE: Sleuths of city crime branch (CCB) nabbed Rohidas alias Sharan, 29, and his three accomplices at Pachchanady railway over bridge on the city outskirts on Tuesday. The four, said city police chief R Hithendra, were in the process of scheming a major crime in the city, when the CCB team headed by police inspector Valentine D’Souza nabbed and recovered firearms, weapons, cash and mobile phones from their possession.
Rohidas, against whom more than a dozen cases are pending in various police stations of city and DK police units, turned a fugitive after he came out of judicial custody on bail in October 2012. Shortly after his release, Rohidas teamed up with Santosh, Gourish, Gautham, Harshit and Akshay to eliminate Kumar of Mullakadu in Kavoor. Even as he was wanted in this case, the accused struck again, this time in April 2013 targeting Prashanth of Kunjathbail. An alleged associate of fugitive Vikky alias Balakrishna Shetty, Rohidas on instructions from Vikky Shetty, fatally attacked Prashanth along with Bhavani Shankar, Naveen Shetty, Pashu, Praveen, Bhavish, Radhakrisha Shetty and Sachchu using a pistol and sharp edged weapons. Rohidas had fired on the car of Prashanth with a pistol while his associates went about their job.
He escaped from police dragnet subsequently in December 2013, when he along with Shivu of Bajal, and Rohith of Aakash Bhavan were planning to carry out dacoity by targeting well-to-do people.
Noting that Rohidas is a resident of Anand Nagar, Aakash Bhavan of Kavoor, Hithendra said the other accused Pavithra Kumar, 26, Sachin, 30, and Harsha Raj, 22 hail from Aakash Bhavan; Sankai Gudde in Bejai, and Kulshekar respectively.
Sleuths seized a pistol, three live rounds, mobile phones, knife, sword, and a Nano car from the accused. Some more persons, who were with the accused, fled the scene on motorcycles.
A case of murder has been registered against Sachin and Harsha Raj, Hithendra said, adding that the police will initiate action against all those who sheltered and provided logistical support to Rohidas when he was a fugitive. K V Jagadeesh, and N Vishnuvardhan, DCPs were present.