Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)
Kasargod, Apr 26: With the arrest of Babu Kuriyakose (53), a native of Poorinhath in Kottayam, the district police have claimed to have solved over 20 theft cases which had occurred in a span of just three months at various places in Manjeshwar, Kumble, and Badiyadka police station limits in the district.
Kuriyakose, who had been jailed relating to different cases of theft at Central Jail Kannur, had been released on December 27, 2013. Immediately upon release, he travelled to Kasargod, Ullal, Mangalore etc and stayed in lodges there. During the day time, he used to roam around different areas, identify houses for theft, and execute the plan of thefts at night, the police said. He was especially interested in donation boxes of prayer centres, it is learnt.
The police said that the arrested accused had taken away money from the donation box located in Yetadka temple in January this year, besides stealing gold ornaments by breaking into the temple office. In the same month, he also stole money from the donation box of a temple installed by the roadside in Perla town, as also money found in donation box of Katukukke and Mundittadka temples. They claimed that in February, Kuriyakose had broken open the door of Yetadka primary health centre, and stolen golden bangles belonging to the staff that were found in the table there. In March, he stole money from Lord Ayyappa Bhajana Mandir at Majibail, and a Rado watch from a house in Batyapadavu near Morattane thereafter.
His loots included donation boxes of a Bhajana Mandir in Beripadavu near Bayar and that of a mosque nearby this placem besides the donation boxes of a temple in Chigurupade. He had attempted to commit theft at Vorkady gram panchayat office. The police nabbed him when trying to execute a plan of theft near Kukkar at midnight on Thursday April 24. The police recovered from his possession, iron rod, screw driver etc which he put to use to steal things.
A team led by deputy superintendent of police, T P Ranjit, Kumble circle inspector of police, Suresh Babu, and Manjeshwar police sub-inspector, P Vijayavan, led the team which arrested the culprit.