Kadri police have arrested two inter-state criminals linked to a chain-snatching incident and a motorcycle theft in Bhatkal. The suspects, Faisal alias Thota Faisal and Nithin Kumar, both from Mysuru, were taken into custody on December 16 following a meticulous investigation by the Kadri police crime wing.
The case began on December 12, when a Yamaha FZ motorcycle (registration KA-19-ER-7755) parked near Sri Hari Complex, Yeyyadi, was reported stolen at Kadri police station. Investigations revealed the duo’s involvement in a December 13 chain-snatching case, where a 70-year-old woman, Honnamma Mahadeva Naik, was targeted in Gardi Hittlu Belake, Bhatkal taluk.
Police successfully recovered a gold chain worth approximately Rs1.20 lakh, along with the stolen motorcycle valued at Rs45,000.
Faisal, son of Ibrahim from Ullal, and Nithin Kumar, son of Y N Nagesh from Vinayakanagar, Mysuru, confessed to their crimes during interrogation. Faisal is reported to have a long criminal record, with around 42 cases across Karnataka and Kerala, including robbery, dacoity, theft, and murder. Over ten non-bailable warrants remain pending against him in various courts, and he had been evading legal proceedings for years.
The operation was led by Mangaluru East police inspector Ananth Padmanabha, PSI Manohar Prasad, ASIs Chandrashekar, Sudhakar Rao, Rajasekhar, head constables Lokesh, Santosh D K, Suresh, Dilip, Mohan, Mallappa B, and police constables Sunil, Manikanth, Maula Ahmed, and Manjunath Vaddar, with active support from Kadri police station personnel.
Authorities continue to investigate whether the suspects were involved in other similar crimes in the region.
