Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Feb 11: In a joint operation, policemen from Kundapur and Shankarnarayana police stations arrested four persons, who reportedly were involved with the theft of donation boxes from various temples in Udupi district, and also areca nut from houses of people.

The accused arrested have been identified as Gopal Mogaveera Kavarady, Shankar Sauda, Harish Salikeri and Vijay Petri. The police said that another accused, named Petri Vighnesh Shetty, succeeded in evading arrest.

During their interrogation, the police said the arrested persons confessed about various thefts with which they were involved, particularly those from temples and areca nut stock from houses. Some of the shrines they had targetted were Baikadthi Daivasthana in Brahmavar, Brahma Baidarkala Garody near Saibrakatte, Hiliyana Garody, and Halady Marlu Chikku Daivasthana. Ganapathi temple in Sauda and Shankarnarayana Ayyappa shrine were the other centres of faith where they had committed theft along with some other thieves. Areca nut was stolen from a house in Sauda.

The police have seized areca nut worth one lac rupees, a Tata 407 tipper truck, a Tata Indigo car, two motor bikes, and two iron rods. Gopal Mogaveera already faces earlier cases of theft, it is learnt.

Two teams headed by local police circle inspector, Diwakar,m and Shankarnarayana station house officer, Dejappa, had been formed to nab thieves involved with numerous cases of areca nut thefts. The above persons were taken into custody on suspicion, but during the questioning, they confessed to the crime.