Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (MS)
Bantwal, Nov 25: Police have arrested a notorious gang involved in the theft of silver ornaments worth Rs 1.25 lac from Thumbe Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple.
The stolen ornaments and the car used in the crime were recovered. The arrested individuals are identified as Prakash Babu alias Mohammed Niyaz (46) from Alappad, Kollam district, Kerala; Basheer K P alias Aakri Basheer (44) from Kotankara, Kasargod district, Kerala; and F J Mohammed Ismail from Pudu village.
Basheer K P is a habitual offender with 13 theft cases against him across various police stations, while Prakash Babu has three theft cases registered.
The accused broke into the temple through the front door on November 4 and stole the DVR of the surveillance camera along with the ornaments. A similar theft was reported the previous day at Sri Ravalanath Temple in Sujeer, prompting the formation of a special police team to apprehend the culprits.
The operation, conducted under the guidance of Dakshina Kannada SP Yatish N and led by Bantwal DySP Vijayaprasad, involved Bantwal rural police station inspector Shivakumar, PSIs Nandakumar, Harish, and Lolaksha, along with a team of dedicated personnel.