Udupi: Police in Udupi Town have taken into custody two men allegedly belonging to a gang from Uttar Pradesh in connection with a house burglary at Ambalpady that was reported in July, officials said on Saturday.
Arrests and recovered property
Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar identified the accused as Mohammed Jafar (22) and Kadir (32), both said to be residents of Akrauli village in Chandausi taluk of Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh. The two were detained after investigations linked them to the theft of cash and valuables from a residence in Ambalpady on July 9.
Udupi Town police registered the case under Sections 331(3), 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in connection with the incident, the officials added.
During the inquiry, officers arrested Jafar near Indrali Railway Station on September 2. From him the police seized cash amounting to ₹1.50 lakh and a mobile phone valued at about ₹8,000. A subsequent visit to Uttar Pradesh by investigating teams resulted in an additional seizure of ₹1.06 lakh linked to the case.
Kadir was traced later and apprehended on September 25 at Moodbidri. Items recovered from him included ₹1.65 lakh in cash, two silver coins (estimated at around ₹6,000), five watches (about ₹15,000) and two screwdrivers that police said were allegedly used in the burglary. A brown-coloured bag was also recovered.
| Item | Approximate value |
|---|---|
| Cash seized from Jafar (initial) | ₹1.50 lakh |
| Cash seized later in UP | ₹1.06 lakh |
| Cash seized from Kadir | ₹1.65 lakh |
| Watches (total) | ≈ ₹15,000 |
| Silver coins | ≈ ₹6,000 |
Overall, property with an estimated value of ₹4.50 lakh has been recovered in relation to the case, according to police records.
Links to prior cases
Police said their inquiries indicate both men are alleged members of what they called the ‘Bidiya Gang’ from Uttar Pradesh and have criminal cases recorded against them in several jurisdictions. Records available with investigators show Jafar reportedly faces a house burglary case registered at Nainital Police Station in Uttarakhand.
Kadir is said to be implicated in multiple cases back in Uttar Pradesh, including two house burglary cases and an illegal arms case registered at Baniyather Police Station, and a further pair of house burglary cases plus an illegal arms case at Civil Lines Police Station in Moradabad.
Investigation and police team
The operation was led by Udupi Town Police Inspector Mahesh Prasad, with participation from Sub-Inspector Ratnakar K, ASI Harish and personnel Prasanna C, Jeevan Kumar, Ananda Ganiga, Ananda and Obalesh. The probe also received assistance from Mani Mallayya Hiremath of the Manipal police, the department said.
- Burglary at Ambalpady reported on July 9, initial loss included ₹6 lakh kept in a bag inside a cupboard and three watches valued around ₹10,000.
- Arrests made on September 2 (Jafar) and September 25 (Kadir).
- Total value of recovered property reported as ₹4.50 lakh.
The police statement emphasised that the accused have prior criminal records in different states, which formed part of the investigative trail connecting them to the Ambalpady incident.
Local and inter-state implications
The case highlights the challenge of inter-state mobility of criminal networks and the need for coordination between district and state police units. Officers noted that tracing the men involved visits to multiple locations and co-operation with Uttar Pradesh authorities aided recoveries and subsequent seizures.
For residents, police recommended continuing vigilance, securing valuables and reporting suspicious activity promptly so that investigators can act before suspects move across state lines. Law enforcement agencies said further legal processes, including production before court and formal charges, will follow as the case record is completed.
The investigation remains active and police said they will provide updates as the matter progresses through the legal process.
