Seven Temple thieves arrested at Bantwal ; several valuable idols seized

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jul 19, 2013: The DK District police have arrested seven persons in connection with temple thefts in Belthangady, Punjalakatte, Bantwal and Udupi. The arrests were made  in Manihalli, Bantwal on July 18, Thursday.

The police have seized several  silver, panchaloha and gold items including Jaina Thirthankara idols from them.

 

The arrested are: Thimmayya son of late Range Gowda, resident of Erada Kere, Kadoor of Chikmagalur; Somanath alias Somesh son of Late Papayya Vasala resident of Belaattalli Harnalli Arasikere of Hassan, Jayaraj, Ganga alias Gangaraj, Babu alias Rudra and Netra.

Addressing  the press meet held at SP Office on July 19, Friday, SP Abhishek Goel said that the district had reported  theft cases in Rama Mandir in Bhramarakutlu, Bantwal, Chandikaparameshwari Temple, Bantwal, Bangadi Basadi in Belthangadi and Ballamanja Shri Anantheshwara Temple, Punjalkatte.

The SP said that district police under his leadership arrested the thieves following tip off that  some strangers were moving around in a car during night time.

He said acting on the tip off, a police team led by PSI Ravi B S while  on night patrol near Uppinangady on July 12 noticed a Tata Indica car bearing register number KA 19 B 9116 during routine checking. They had  chased the car upto  Punjalkatte but could not intercept it. Later, a  team led by Bantwal PSI Mahesh Prasad arrested them in Bantwal, he said.