Udupi: In a major crackdown on criminal elements, the Udupi police have arrested Kabir alias Kabir Hussain (46), a known associate of the infamous Garuda Gang. A resident of Kampa Kauroor in Karkala, Kabir was detained under the Karnataka Goonda Act—officially the Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Goondas, etc.—following an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Udupi.
The preventive detention directive led to Kabir being taken into custody and subsequently transferred to the Central Prison in Mysuru for incarceration.
Kabir’s criminal history dates back to 2005, with his name linked to 17 serious cases across multiple regions. His offenses include homicide, attempted murder, extortion, robbery, cattle theft, and even assault on public servants. Of these, he has been convicted in two cases, acquitted in eight, reached out-of-court settlements in three, while two remain in trial and two others are still under investigation.
His activities span across several police jurisdictions in Udupi district—including Karkala Town, Hiriyadka, Padubidri, Manipal, Shirva, and Kaup. Authorities confirmed his involvement in additional crimes in Sringeri and Koppa (Chikkamagaluru district) and in Venoor and Surathkal under Mangaluru city limits (Dakshina Kannada district).
Kabir is identified as a key operative of the Garuda Gang, a group with a notorious reputation for violence and intimidation across coastal Karnataka. His arrest is seen as a major blow to gang activities in the region.