Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Apr 6: A youth who jumped over the compound wall of a house and was spotted acting suspiciously was caught by the public and thrashed near Kolya here on Sunday April 5.
He was then handed over to police.

Incidentally, gold ornaments worth several lacs of rupees were stolen from a house in the same neighbourhood recently.

Late night on Sunday, Sattar (25) from Mastikatte was spotted leaping over the compound wall of a house located near Shree Mookambika Temple, Kolya near the national highway. The family members who were in the house noticed him jumping over the wall and came out to catch hold of him, but on seeing them, Sattar took to his heels and hid inside an empty compound near the temple.

Nevertheless, the locals caught hold of him and on questioning, he started to blabber and acted suspiciously. They then thrashed him, but he still did not reveal anything. The locals expressed suspicions that Sattar was intoxicated with ganja.

The Ullal police on receving information arrived at the spot but Sattar did not speak even when questioned by the police. He was later shifted to a hospital and then taken into custody.

About a week ago, a theft of gold ornaments worth several lacs had been reported at the house belonging to journalist Jayant Ullal's in-laws, located behind Shree Mokambika Temple. Sattar was spotted at the same place. Some said four others had come with him in two bikes.

Sattar is employed in textile store in Mangaluru, sources said. Locals claimed that he would plead for money from passersby, and if they refused, he would resort to pick-pocketing.

Further investigations are on.