Police recover properties worth Rs. 50 lakh from them

The police here have arrested a three-member gang involved in scores of thefts including idols from temples. The arrested have been identified as A.N. Biju, 32; P. Johnson, 37, of Pariyaram; and Paduvilan Prashanth, 29, of Ulikkal. While Biju and Prashanth were arrested from Iritty on Wednesday evening, Johnson was nabbed from Pariyaram on Thursday morning.

‘Panchaloha’ idol

The police recovered from them stolen properties worth Rs.50 lakh, including a 400-year-old ‘panchaloha’ idol stolen from the Mukkunnu Anikkal Bhagavathi temple, near Pariyaram.

The police also arrested Jobi George of Karikkottakkari here, who cut a piece of the pedestal of the idol for acid testing ahead of its purchase.

House break-in

District Police Chief P.N. Unnirajan told reporters here on Thursday that the gang was busted by the personnel of the Special Investigation Supporting Team (SIST) while investigating a house break-in reported from Venganath, near Ulikkal, on July 25.

The investigation revealed the involvement of the accused in nearly 25 temple theft cases in the district over the past one year and nearly 80 cases of break-ins in Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kollam, and parts of Karnataka.

The temple at Pariyaram had been robbed on May 4, he said, adding that the antique value of the idol was estimated at more than Rs.10 lakh.

Biju, a laterite bricks worker, had earlier undergone jail sentences in two theft cases and had got acquainted with Prashanth, who had also been in jail for theft.

Sandal tree theft

Johnson, a lumberjack, was allegedly involved in several sandal tree theft cases, the police said.

The police also said that the arrested used modus operandi that was different from those familiar to the police.

They targeted closed houses for robbery and left the wardrobes and lockers permanently damaged.

The stolen items recovered from the three included gold ornaments, DVD players, LED TV sets and digital cameras, among others.

The police team that busted the theft gang included Iritty Deputy Superintendent of Police P. Sukumaran; Circle Inspector V.V. Manoj; SIST personnel, including Assistant Sub Inspectors Rafi Ahamad, Rajeevan Kokkadan, Raji Skariya, and senior Civil Police Officer Yogesh.