Kodagu Superintendent of Police (SP) K Ramarajan informed in a recent press conference that the police team succeeded in arresting the Assam-based thieves and added that thief from Assam who came to Madikeri with the intention of stealing a temple.
The arrested are Althab Ali (27) and Meer Hussain (36). SP further said that Ali has been in Kodagu for the last 10 years. He was staying with his relative at a plantation’s line house of Thekkada Prasanna, at Kanthoor-Murnad. Meer Hussain is said to have arrived at Kodagu to commit the crime.
Speaking further SP said that on last 16-08-2024 in the middle of the night, unknown persons broke the lock of the main gate of the temple and broke 2 bandar hundis in the temple and stole approximately Rs. 2,50,000/- in cash and about Rs. 1,16,000/ worth jewelry.A complaint was received from Somayya T. P. Managing Trustee, Kote Mariamma Temple, Madikeri regarding the theft of valuable gold and silver ornaments, a case was registered under Section: 331(4), 305 BNS Act at Madikeri Town Police Station.
After visiting the spot by SP and Sundar Raj, Additional Superintendent of Police, a special team was formed under DySP Mahesh Kumar, CPI Raju P.K, PSI Lokesh, Madikeri town policestation, subdivision level crime detection staff, DCRB and technical staff to nab the culprits. After scanning CCTV footages and through investigation and a clue from an auto driver the police arrested Althab Ali, Meer Hussain and seized a three-gram weighing golden mangalya, a 111-gm weighing silver kireeta (crown) and a 59-gm weighing silver ‘drishtibottu’ and also recovered Rs 95,501 cash from the accused.
SP congratulated the officers and staff who did a good job in tracking down the accused in the said case and recovering the stolen ornaments.
SP further said that if any suspicious persons are found in public places and around their house, the public can inform local police stations or can call emergency helpline 112 and can give information or through KSP network. Details of informants will not be disclosed the Superintendent of Police added.
