Madikeri: Kodagu crime branch police nabbed 3 inter-state vehicle robbers and recovered 10 vehicles worth 33 lakhs, according to the Superintendent of Police Rajendra Prasad.

The arrested ones are Mohammad Salim alias Anagur Salim, native of Kasargod, residing in Shirangala in Kodagu, Saju Verghese from Adoor in Pathnamthitta in Kerala and Mohammed Safi. K from Mallapuram in Kerala.

After receiving multiple complaints from public regarding vehicle thefts the police team led by district crime branch inspector Lingappa intensified searches to nab the offenders. During a routine check at Chain gate check post in Kushalnagar police managed to apprehend the trio travelling in a black Qualis on suspicion. During further interrogation the police were able to extract more information from the trio involved in multiple thefts including robbing a black Toyota Qualis from Kushalnagr town limits on August 7. They also recovered knives and other objects.

The antecedents of the trio nabbed are shocking. Mohammed Salim an habitual vehicle lifter since 1990 was running a hotel near Thorenur, Saju Verghese was involved in multiple thefts around Kannur in Kerala and Mohammed Safi was part of sand mafia.

The police recovered 2 Toyota Qualis vehicles, 2 tippers, 2 bikes, 3 cars and one auto rickshaw along with 20000 in cash from Salim’s residence near Shirangala on Kushalnagar-Hassan Road. The district SP announced a cash award of Rs 20000 to the police team which nabbed the trio. DySP SB Chabbi was present on the occasion.