Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jul 14: DCP Shantaraju on Tuesday July 14 said that the Mangaluru south and north police teams have succeeded in arresting four accused in separate cases of thefts and robbery.

Addressing a press meet at the police commissioner's office here, the DCP said that the police arrested the accused in the recent theft at PWD quarters in Bondel, temple thefts in various places and robbery cases.

Bondel robbery case

The police on Tuesday July 14 arrested Taranath (23) of Padavinangady in connection to the robbery case wherein unidentified persons, on the pretext of asking for water, had barged into the PWD quarters where A Radha, a stenographer with commercial tax department is residing. They allegedly assaulted, tied her up and looted her gold and cash amounting to Rs 89,000. The incident had taken place on the night of July 11.

The DCP said that one of the men who entered the premises of Radha's house had smeared vermillion on his face and clothes to make it look as if he was bleeding. Believing that he was hurt and needed water, Radha opened the door. The men then gagged and tied her up, took her to the bedroom and jabbing a knife into her, told her to give them all the valuables and gold in her house. The robbery came to light only the next morning.

Another accused in the case is absconding. During interrogation, Taranath said that he and accomplice and kept a watch on the lady knowing that she stayed alone and owned valuables. They pretended to have met with an accident and gained illegal entry into her house.

Also Taranath said during interrogation that his accomplice took away all the stolen gold and cash and gave him Rs 1,000 out of it before absconding, but when he counted, it was only Rs 600. The police seized this money as well as a motorcycle from him. The police have formed a special team to catch the absconding accused, the DCP informed.

Notorious temple thief held

The police have also arrested a notorious inter-state temple thief, identified as Mohammed Rafiq alias Rafiq alias Rickshaw Rafiq (26) of Kalkatta, Manjanady, now a resident of Benjanapadavu, Bantwal.

Rafiq, who was arrested near Mulky by the crime branch police (CCB) led by inspector Valentine D'Souza, had committed thefts at various temples and houses in Karnataka and Kerala. He is also involved in kidnapping cases.

Rafiq had earlier been arrested, and granted bail by the court. However, he repeatedly failed to appear in court, and arrest warrants were issued against him in Mangaluru, Mulky, Konaje and Kundapur.

In 2008, he had allegedly looted a Kerala businessman in Konaje, and also committed thefts in temples at Montugoli and Kambalapadu, Konaje. He is also accused of stealing idols from a Kundapur temple and two temples at Kumble and one in Manjeshwar, apart from stealing valuables from a house in Mulky. He is also charged with indulging in immoral activities in the limits of Mangaluru east police.

Besides, he is wanted in a theft case in Kannur of Kerala, and for kidnapping a businessman in Byatarayapura in Bengaluru. He has been handed over to Konaje police for further investigation.

Two arrested for robbing pedestrians

"Many incidents of theft and robbery have been reported under south and north police station limits. The south police on Tuesday July 14 arrested Althaf (23), a resident of K C Road, and Rajesh (33), a resident of Tannirbavi, in this connection," said the DCP.

The police seized a knife, a blade, a silver brasslight, Samsung mobile phone, and cash and a bike from the accused. Another accused, who has not been identified, will be arrested soon, DCP Shantaraju said.

On July 6, Radhakrishna, a resident of Baikampady Industrial Area, was walking towards Mescom when two persons stabbed him with a knife and robbed him of Rs 1,740 which was in his pocket. A case in this regard was filed in Mangaluru south police station. The police who investigated the case arrested the accused Altaf and Rajesh.

Both the accused are unemployed. They used to stab and rob persons walking alone in areas such as Nehru Maidan, service bus stand and Central Market.

Altaf is wanted in two cases registered in Mangaluru south police station and three in north police station, while Rajesh alias Appu is facing two cases in north police station.

Operation Muskan

Apart from nabbing thieves and robbers, the police have also rescued three young children who were found near Badriya mosque. On July 3, the Mangaluru south police found three young girls, aged 11, 9 and 4, sitting near shop close to the mosque. Inspector Dinakar Shetty and women police personnel along with child welfare officers Manjula and Muralidhar Ballal visited the spot and enquired about the children.

The eldest girl, who spoke in Hindi, said that she and her sisters were from Secunderabad, and that their father was Rasool. The family was living in a tent near the railway station, and on that day, their parents had left them near the mosque and gone away. The police took the children into their care, and on investigating, found their parents begging near Bunder. Rasool told the police that he was unemployed and begged to support his family. The children were handed over to him after advising him to look after them properly.