The Kallambalam police arrested four persons on Wednesday on charge of dacoity.
Aneesh Kareem, sub-inspector, Kallambalam police, identified the accused as Reebu, 35, of Karavaram; Kumar, alias Kaplachi, 47, of Navaikulam; Pramod, 30, of Chemmaruthy; and Vijith, 28, of Ottur. They were nabbed for allegedly breaking into a house at Njekkad, near Navaikulam.
In a complaint submitted by Satheesh Chandran, the owner of the house, the gang had intimidated the residents and left with a sport utility vehicle (SUV) parked in the car porch. They also threatened the complainant’s brother-in-law, who attempted to prevent them from forcefully opening the vehicle.
The official said there were reasons to believe that the gang was hired by a financial institution to collect repayment dues of a loan. The police have recovered the vehicle taken away by the accused. They were produced in the Attingal Judicial First Class Magistrate Court (Temporary) and remanded in judicial custody for 15 days.
Mr. Kareem pointed out that two of the accused, Reebu and Pramod, were goons who had been involved in numerous cases of theft and assault. They have also been placed under preventive detention in the Poojappura Central Prison after invoking provisions of the Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA). The police are on the lookout for a fifth accused in connection with the case.
