Haveri: A District Armed Reserve police constable in Haveri district was arrested along with 5 alleged robbers for assisting in a house robbery in Nidnagilu village of Hirekerur taluk, Haveri district. He was also suspended from service.The arrested accused were Malleshappa Venkappa Naik from Shidenur village in Byadgi taluk, Kantesh Muttappa Waddar from Kerur village in Badami taluk, Ajeya Hanumant Salhalli from Belawadi in Bailhongal, Belagavi district, Nagaraj Hanumant Waddar, and the assisting accused, DAR police constable Pradeep Hanumantappa Naik, 37, from Mudinakoppa, Hirekerur taluk.
Police seized cash of Rs 52,000, 7.7 grams of gold, the bike used in the crime, and other items from the accused. It was revealed that the accused pawned the gold at a finance company to obtain a loan.Pradeep Naik is a 2008 batch personnel and served as a driver for the Hirekerur CPI for 4 years, and was recently part of the Haveri DAR division. An investigation is underway to determine why he committed such an act and how he developed a relationship with the accused.According to police, the involvement of personnel in an act that brought embarrassment to the police department led to his suspension, and an internal investigation will be conducted. After the Bengaluru incident, a Rs 7 crore robbery and the involvement of police, the department is planning to initiate strict action.“On the night of Jan 19, five robbers broke into the house of Mallangouda Patil in Nidnagilu village, Hirekerur taluk, wearing monkey caps. They threatened the 5 people in the house with knives, stole cash worth Rs 5 lakh, 40 grams of gold jewellery, and 244 grams of silver, and fled. A case was registered at the Hirekerur police station,” shared SP Yashodha Vantagodi.She further said that under the leadership of Ranebennur DySP Lokesh, 4 special teams were formed to arrest the accused. During the interrogation of the arrested suspects, it was revealed that Constable Pradeep Naik assisted in the theft at the same house. “After verification, the accused Pradeep was arrested. We will investigate the case further, and we suspect these accused are involved in more robbery cases, even in Haveri and other districts,” SP Yashodha clarified.Quote: There is no excuse to initiate actions even against police personnel involved in anti-social activities; we will initiate stern actions against staff without any mercy. – Yashodha Vatagodi, SP Haveri
