Bhatkal: Following the revelation of a sensational incident involving the robbery of a trader through a honeytrap in Bhatkal, the police swiftly took action, apprehending two suspects. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to locate and apprehend two women who managed to escape in connection with the case.

The arrested individuals are identified as Murtuza (24) and Rizwan (22), both residents of Purvarga in Bhatkal. Authorities are conducting an extensive search for the two women associated with the honeytrap scheme.

Mohammed Shakeel (49), a shop owner near Bhatkal flower bazar, became a victim of this elaborate plan. According to sources, Shakeel encountered the two women on November 6 when they entered his shop under the guise of shopping. The women, through flirting, obtained his mobile number and subsequently lured him into their trap with seductive words. After several phone calls, they persuaded Shakeel to meet them for the night.

Adhering to the instructions of the women, Shakeel closed his shop and headed to Tengingundi Cross on his bike at night. From there, he proceeded towards the petrol pump on foot. While the women waited in a car on the National Highway, upon Shakeel entering the car, it drove towards Murdeshwar. In a forested area en route to Uttarkoppa, the car stopped, and another person emerged from the backdoor, threatening Shakeel with a knife and demanding money. To save his life, Shakeel handed over ₹20,000 in cash and transferred ₹49,000 through phone pay.

Subsequently, Shakeel was taken to Honnavar, where, in the middle of the forest, he was coerced into recording a video confessing that he was enticed by the woman. The perpetrators threatened to make the video viral on social media if he reported the incident to the police or shared it with anyone.

The women allegedly instructed the two men accompanying them to kill Shakeel in the forest in Honnavar. Whether this instruction was a genuine threat or intended to intimidate Shakeel is yet to be determined.

Later that night, Shakeel was brought back to Bhatkal in the same car. As they approached Shirali, Shakeel, in distress, began shouting for help. Observing this, he was dropped near the Shirali check post, and the car fled towards Bhatkal, disappearing from sight. Shakeel reportedly walked to Venkatapura Ice Factory, where someone provided him a lift to Tenginagundi Cross. From there, he reached home on his motorbike late at night.

Keeping the incident confidential initially, Shakeel later confided in close relatives, leading to the information reaching leaders of the social organization Majlis e Islah wa Tanzeem. Encouraged to file a police complaint, Shakeel did so under the guidance of CPI Chandan Gopal from the Bhatkal rural police station.

Acting promptly, the police arrested two individuals based on phone call and money transfer records. Upon the case emerging, the two women implicated in the honeytrap case managed to escape from Bhatkal. Police teams have been dispatched to various locations to trace the fugitive women.

It has come to light that a few days ago, on December 8, another individual fell victim to a robbery while being taken to a hill near Bhatkal Sarpankatta Dargah. It has been revealed that the same individuals, Murtaza and Rizwan, were allegedly involved in that robbery as well, during which a gold chain worth ₹60,000 and a mobile phone were stolen. A case related to that robbery has also been registered at the Bhatkal rural police station.

The full extent of the gang's criminal activities and the number of individuals ensnared through honeytrap schemes are expected to be revealed only after a thorough police investigation.