The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Attack on police: prime accused arrested

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Friday, Jan 07, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Attack on police: prime accused arrested

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 6 . The Kazhakkuttom police have arrested a 26-year-old youth who is wanted in 40 cases in the State.

The accused was identified as Shibu alias `Peeli' Shibu of Station Kadavu colony. The charges against the accused include dacoity, robbery, extortion and violation of the Explosives Act.

The Circle Inspector, Kazhakottam, P. Reghu, said that Shibu was the prime accused in the case of country-bomb attack on a police party at Kalpana Colony in February last. Five policemen were injured in the attack.

According to the police, `Peeli' Shibu is a prominent member of the Thumba-based gang headed by `Blackie' Shibu and `Ilapakuzhy' Biju. In 2002, the gang was accused by the police of stealing a Maruti van from Thumba and engaging in a highway robbery spree.

According to the police, twenty-two robberies were conducted along the National Highway from Mangalapuram to Malappuram on the same day. All the offences were traced back to the Thumpa gang in which `Peeli' Shibu was the key operative, they said.

The gang took away Rs. 10,000 from a lorry carrying fish in Kayamkulam, and Rs. 50,000 from a Kerala State Beverages Corporation-owned Indian Made Foreign Liquor outlet in Malappuram the same day. On the way, the gang had also stolen Rs. 65,000 from a petrol station in Thrissur, the police said. The police team that tried to intercept the gang at Thrissur was attacked with country bombs.

Evaded law

`Ilapakuzhy' Biju, who went underground for nearly two years was arrested in February last. The police also arrested his associates Pettah Suni, Kudukka Ratheesh and Subash. But `Peeli' Shibu continued to evade the law. He was reported to be hiding in Mumbai and recently in Kannur district.

The police said that Shibu was respected in the circle of criminals for his "skill" in making crackers and country bombs. Last year, the SP (Rural), P. Vijayan, constituted a special team to arrest him. Initially, the team led by the DySP, Attingal, B. Sasidharan, and Mr. Reghu did not even have a photograph of Shibu. Later, they cultivated informants to track Shibu's movement.

An official said that Shibu's links with gangs in Barton Hill, Pettah and other areas are being probed. He was produced before the Attingal Magistrate Court and remanded to 14 days judicial custody.

Four held

The Medical College police have arrested four youth wanted in 10 cases of robbery, assault and extortion in the city.

The Circle Inspector (CI), R. Jayasankar, identified the accused as Puli Mohanan, 36, of Nalanchira, Shibu, 29, Rajesh,19, and Omani Sajeev, 25. The CI said that Omani Sajeev was a member of the gang headed by Malayan Dileep, a history-sheeter. Sajeev was arrested in connection with an extortion bid at a toddy shop in Kochulloor. All were produced before the court and remanded to 14 days judicial custody.

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