Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Apr 1: Two people were arrested in connection to the incident where objectionable materials were dropped into the offering box of a Koragajja Katte on Thursday April 1.

The arrested have been identified as Raheem and Taufiq aged around 32 to 35 from Jokatte. The duo had earlier confessed their mistake at the temple and surrendered themselves to the people there who later handed them over to the police. 

Addressing a press meet, police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said, “In the last three months, five cases have been registered at Ullal, Kadri, and Pandeshwar police stations over miscreants dropping objectionable items into the offering boxes of temples. In Mangaluru, people believe in Koragajja and offer prayers.

“Accused Raheem and Taufiq were in touch with the priest of a Koragajja Katte located at Yemmekere ground to confess their mistake. They were called during the ‘Nemotsava’ where they confessed about involving in the heinous act.

“One more accused named Nawaz, who is the common friend of the other two accused, had come back from Dubai one and half years ago. In the last couple of months, he suffered severe health issues and passed away. Recently, the devotees carried out a walkathon from Kadri temple to Kutthar Koragajja Katte. Later, Taufiq also faced severe health issues like Nawaz. Out of fear, they decided to confess. Raheem and Taufiq used to accompany Nawaz to the Koragajja Katte to drop objectionable items in the offering box.

“The objective behind the act is not yet known. We are probing it. As per the primary investigation, they have committed the act in three places. The modus operandi looks similar. We need to verify the hand written content as well. Both the accused voluntarily contacted the priest to confess,” he said.

On the thefts in Moodbidri, Gurupr and Bajpe, the police commissioner said, “We have received an important lead in the series of thefts committed by a gang coming in two cars, where two-wheelers and cars were waylaid and houses were broken into.”