Gang of temple thieves held; booty worth Rs 56L recovered

The Nanjangud police have recovered gold and silver valuables worth Rs 56 lakh by arresting a three-member gang of thieves.

Addressing media here on Thursday, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare said that gold and silver valuables weighing two kg and four kg respectively were stolen from temples and houses by the gang in separate cases.

The arrested have been identified as Shekar, a resident of Korama colony, Maddur in Mandya district, Kengala from Shivapura, KR Pet taluk in Mandya district and Revanna of Sunkadakatte in Bengaluru. Following their arrest, the police have succeeded in cracking 13 cases.

The SP said that the gang was adept at stealing valuables from temples after doing a recce during the day. They used to regularly visit the temples in the guise of devotees and gauge the extent of offerings in terms of valuables and rupees before preparing the theft plan.

Accordingly, they had raided Lakshmi temple at Kempisiddanahundi, Nanjangud taluk on July 17, from where a gold bar and valuables weighing 1.7 kg and silver valuables weighing one kg and Rs 25,000 in cash were stolen.

Following the particular case, the police team led by Assistant SP Amrit Prakash Nikam intensified the investigation only to nab the gang. The accused were trying to sell the booty to a jeweller on Ashoka road in Mysuru on August 19, when they were arrested, added SP.

During interrogation, the arrested spilled the beans and confessed to have committed thefts at  Bhyraveshwara temple at Himmavuhundi, Nanjangud taluk, Murudeshwara temple at Maradipura in T Narsipura taluk and Nagalingeshwara temple at Thumbunerale apart from striking at houses in various places.

Following the revelations, the SP advised the temple management committees to depsoit the valuables in bank lockers and takem them out me only during fairs and festivals.

The police team led by Nikam also consisted of Inspectors Gopalkrishna (District crime branch), M Mahesh Kumar (in-charge of Najangud circle), M C Ravikumar among others, the SP said.