Puttur, May 9: Uppinangady police have arrested a gang on migrant astrologers who visit door to door and make astrological predictions based on cards picked by parrots or lines seen on palms.
A team of police led by Uppinangady police sub-inspector, Jagadish Reddy, arrested this gang on Friday May 8th, while they were found seated in a Maruti Omni car at Uppinangady bypass road on national highway 75. This gang which was equipped with weapons had come from Hassan district with the specific intension of robbing people.
The police have seized cash Rs 8,100, two swords, two iron rods, two cell phones, and Omni car from possession of the gang.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mahesh alias Mada from Uppinangady, Manjunath from Suratkal Devaraj from Krishnapura, Venkatesh from Bengaluru, Manikanta from Bengaluru, Nagaraj from Suratkal, Ramesh from Alevoor, Prakash, from Angadihalli, and Kaverappa from Arasikere.
Against all of them, a case was registered in Uppinangady station.
The police found that the members of this gang used to move around Belur, Hagare, and Arasikere in Hassan district, as well as Krishnapura and Suratkal in Dakshina Kannada district, and earn a living by making predictions about the future of people charging a small amount.
The gang members have a history of thefts, and many of them had been arrested for thefts including daylight thefts and were released from jail after completion of their terms.
Police suspect that they had come together for indulging in a major crime.
During questioning, the cops learnt that he gang was engaged in thefts in Kasargod, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts, and were not carrying on the occupation of astrological predictions.
Police learnt that the gang was formed under the instructions of Mahesh alias Mada from Angadihalli in Belur taluk, who currently lives near Uppinangady Harinagar now. This gang named, ‘Turuturu Mama’.
The arrested were produced in the court here, and have been detained under to judicial custody.
