Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Aug 10: Relating to the theft of gold ornaments kept in an almirah in the house of an entrepreneur from the town recently, theft-accused have been nabbed. A B Veigas from Koornadka here had complained that ornaments worth Rs 2 lac had been stolen from the almirah kept inside his house during the last week of July this year. These arrests were made by town police inspector, Mahesh Prasad, and his personnel.

The arrested accused are Anusha, who worked as home nurse in the house of Veigas, housemaid, Sumitra, Anusha's boyfriend, Lokesh, and Lokesh's friend, Gopinath. The stolen things were recovered from the arrested persons. It is said that out of the accused, Lokesh and Gopinath helped the above two ladies after they stole the ornaments.

Local deputy superintendent of police, Bhaskar Rai N G, gave the above information to journalists. He said that accused Anusha hails from Sira taluk in Tumkur district, while Sumitra is from Narve village in Belur taluk, Hassan district. Lokesh and Gopinath are from Sakleshpur in Kodagu district. The family members were taken aback to know that the two employees, on whom they had lot of trust, had compromised the trust.

Anusha had been appointed to take care of mother of Veigas, who is sick. Sumitra looked after household work. Both were treated like family members, and they knew everything about the family and household affairs, it is said.

It is learnt that inspector, Mahesh Prasad, after the complaint was registered, formed a team of town station police sub-inspector, Abdul Khader, and some other personnel. The team arrested Anusha from Sira and Sumitra from Narve. After collecting information from them during interrogation, they arrested Lokesh and Gopinath.

The thieves had raised loan from a private finance firm in Sakleshpur against pledge of one of the gold chains. The other two were sold by Anusha and Sumitra to a jewellery shop in the town, and bought two bangles and a finger ring from there. The remaining amount was transferred to the account of her two children by Sumitra through a bank here. The policemen have since impounded the above money deposited in the bank. The gold ornaments recovered by the police have been valued at Rs 1.95 lac.

Anusha told the police that she had seen the house owner keeping ornaments kept in a purse inside an almirah. She was encouraged by Sumitra to commit theft, it is said. After stealing the ornaments, both had taken permission to leave for their native places. The family came to know about the theft on July 30. After holding discussions with children, complaint was filed in the town station on August 6.

The accused were presented before the judge here on Sunday, after which they were remanded to judicial custody. Bhaskar Rai opined that failure to take abundant care when hiring people at home, and in taking all security measures for safekeeping of valuables, ornaments and cash when workers are around, can give rise to such thefts. District superintendent of police, Dr S D Sharanappa, who praised the swift operation of the investigating team led by inspector, Mahesh Prasad, has also announced cash reward for the team.