Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Nov 27: A gang comprising around 20 members including a sorcerer who acted as a guide, had been at work to dig out hidden treasure that was presumably buried under sand at Gangolli in the taluk, since some weeks. It is believed that the treasure buried at the spot is worth crores of rupees.

Acting on information, a police team raided the spot on the night of Wednesday November 26 and succeeded in arresting two of the accused. They also took into possession a Maruti Omni van, an axe, and a poultry bird that had been readied for being sacrified to the gods to appease them. In the melee, the other persons involved with the operation including the sorcerer succeeded in escaping from the scene.

The arrested men have been identified as Arif from Santoshnagar in Hemmady village and Shariff from Kody. The police have now launched a search operation for the sorcerer and other persons who had given the police a slip during the above raid.

An area known as Sanyasi Balle is located on the beach at Gangolli. It is gathered that a sorcerer had informed a Muslim from Mangaluru that this spot has a hidden treasure worth crores of rupees. Relying on this information, a gang of about 20 people used to come to this spot every night to resume attempt to get their hands to the treasure, under the guidance of the sorcerer. The gang usually operated after 12 am and used search lights.

Several people residing in nearby areas had grown suspicious about the movements of this gang. They could not muster enough courage to confront the gang as they had knowledge that the gang had lethal weapons in its possession. Based on information given by locals, the police had raided the spot at night three to four times, but had to return empty-handed every time, as the gang did not make an appearance on those days per chance.

The raid conducted on Wednesday however, yielded fruits. While two accused and a Maruti Omni along with axe and a cock were taken into possession, the sorcerer and other main accused succeeded in fleeing from the spot in a jeep, it is learnt.

It is believed that in 1996, a gang involved with smuggling by a boat was forced to bury the goods the crew was smuggling at Gangolli beachhurriedly, after coming to know that they were about to be apprehended. Thereafter, police had tried to unearth the treasure, but had failed to find anything. Several gangs had also scouted the area after coming to know that pieces of gold and gold ornaments were found occasionally at the spot by local people.

At the spot where a huge pit was dug, some salt packets, blood stains of chicks previously sacrificed, lemon, turmeric powder, vermilion powder etc were found.

A case stands registered in Gangolli police station relating to this incident. police are continuing with further investigation.