PANAJI
The Panaji police on Tuesday busted an inter-state mobile theft gang and recovered 23 stolen mobile phones worth Rs 7.50 lakh. The accused identified as D K Lakshmana, 26, Sandeep Siddanamatti, 30, and Santosh Bhovi, 25, all hailing from Shivamogga in Karnataka, have been arrested under sections 380 (theft) read with 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
Addressing a press conference in the police headquarters, Panaji, Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Nidhin Valsan informed the accused usually targeted victims in hotels, lodges and crowded places.
“This Shivamogga gang targeted Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka and are mostly involved in bag lifting and stealing of high-end mobile phones. They were always in search of victims who lodged themselves in hotels, and lodges. Crowded places were also on their target list,” the officer said.
The officer said that meticulous planning helped them arrest the accused from Zuarinagar in Verna.
Lakshmana is a convict in a similar offence registered against him and his four accomplices, by the Panaji police, in 2020 while Bhovi is wanted by police counterparts in Udupi for the offense of trespassing and theft.
