MAPUSA
In a significant breakthrough, Anjuna Police have arrested a gang of six youth involved in the theft at St Joseph's High School in Arpora and the vandalism of St Anthony's High School in Duler, Mapusa.
Authorities are currently on the lookout for a 17-year-old minor also suspected of being involved in the crimes.
The group allegedly stole goods worth Rs 2.5 lakh from St Joseph's High School out of frustration over delays in issuing school leaving certificates and vandalised the St Anthony's High School "for fun."
Five of the six suspects are former students of St Joseph's High School.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Kiran Arjun Maharana (18) of Saliswada-Parra, Ronit Rajesh Redkar (18) of Dammedem-Tivim, Vaibhav Vasant Jadhav (18) of Karaswada-Mapusa, Alvino Theotonic Fernandes (18) of Tambudki-vaddo, Arpora, Kaif Mehboob Ali Badigar (18) of Parra, and Kabir Mahavir Pradhan (20) of Baga-Arpora.
The theft at St Joseph's High School occurred on the evening of August 4, when the suspects allegedly entered the school by jumping over the gate and breaking the locks on the principal's cabin, school office, and staff room.
The stolen items included two computer monitors, an inverter, a DVR, a CPU, and a UPS, valued at approximately Rs 2.5 lakh.
Following a complaint from the school management, Anjuna Police registered a case under Sections 305, 331(3), 331(4), and 3(5) of the BNS Act.
Through meticulous investigation, the police arrested the suspects on Monday and recovered all stolen items except the DVR.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to also vandalising St. Anthony's High School in Duler, Mapusa, on August 9.
The accused allegedly broke the lock on the main gate of the school, burned materials, shattered windows, and vandalised the principal's and manager's cabins as well as the staff room.
They also stole the school's CCTV system and DVR.
The police team, led by Anjuna Police Inspector Suraj Gawas, included PSI Ramesh Harijan and Saish Shetgaonkar, along with Constables Mahendra Mandrekar, Rupesh Aajgaonkar, Kishan Bugde, Aniket Pednekar, Arun Mahale, and Mandar Narulkar.
The investigation is ongoing and authorities are working to apprehend the remaining suspect.
