PANAJI
The Crime Branch (CB) sleuths arrested two persons including a scrap dealer for stealing as many as 173 brass bells and oil lamps (Samai) from temples in Goa and neighbouring districts. Mohd Salman and Raju Singh, both hailing from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar respectively, have been arrested and the stolen valuables recovered.
Initial investigations revealed that Salman, living in a rental house at Karaswada and a scrap dealer, would break in at various temples and decamp with bells and/or lamps. He also targeted other places from where he has stolen brass metals and water pump motors. These were sold to Singh, who lives in Colvale and undertakes small civil works.
On a tip-off, the CB team raided Salman’s premises where they found all the stolen valuables.
“We have recovered 165 bells, 8 lamps (Samai), 2 Nandadeep of brass metals in different shapes and sizes and four water-pump motors along with its dismantled equipment from the possession of the accused, all total worth Rs 5 lakh approx.,” SP Nidhin Valsan said.
The accused confessed to his latest crime where they stole away water pump motors from a liquor factory in Quepem last Saturday. Salman was recently arrested by the Pernem police for a similar crime this year.
Arrested under section 41 (preventive arrest) of the CrPC, the accused were soon handed over to Saligao police, which is probing the theft of two lamps from a Laxmi Temple. “The priests have identified the two big lamps recovered during the raid,” PI Vishwajit Chodankar said.
The other police stations in Goa and the counterparts in the neighbouring states have been informed about the arrests. They are likely to seek the accused custody for investigation.
