Five accused of theft nabbed

July 05, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 06:01 am IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

The City police had a field day on Friday by managing to bring to book five persons who were accused in separate cases.

Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, City police Commissioner H. Venkatesh said of the arrested included Bahuleyan alias Babu, aged 48, who was accused in nearly 50 theft cases in the Thiruvananthapuram city alone, of which 10 were committed in the recent past.

It was only three weeks ago that he had allegedly stolen gold ornaments weighing 28 sovereigns, wrist watches, and a digital camera from a house in Chempakasseri that belonged to a staff member in the marketing wing of an English newspaper in the city.

He was nabbed by the shadow police wing from Madurai after nearly three months of surveillance. Upon interrogation, the accused confessed to the crimes. “His modus operandi involved closely observing houses that provided easy access for breaking in during late hours. Armed with only a screwdriver and a torch, Babu breaks into houses by bending the grills of the windows. He leaves the front door open before the robbery to ensure a fast exit,” he said.

The police have recovered several gold ornaments and electronic items that were reported to be stolen. The police are also on the lookout for Babu’s accomplice.

In another case, the police arrested four persons for vandalising nine vehicles that were parked on the roadside near Chackai in the early hours of Friday.

The main accused in the case have been identified as Sumesh and Sujith. Their accomplices, Anu and Sabari, were also apprehended.

The act of violence is believed to have been aimed at a leader of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Mr. Vekatesh said. He said it was likely that the provisions of the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) could be slapped against those arrested.

In a third case, the police arrested Babukuttan, aged 41, in connection with various anti-social activities and also charged provisions of KAAPA against him.

He was wanted for his roles in crimes that were reported in Maruthankuzhy, Kanjirampara, and Pangode. He was apprehended during the ‘Operation Monsoon’ drive that was undertaken on Friday.

He is accused in a robbery case that was reported within the Vattiyoorkavu police station limits in April. The crime was committed soon after completing a jail term of six months.

The habitual offender was imprisoned after being found guilty in two other theft cases in the past.

MLA criticises police

V. Sivankutty, MLA, has accused certain police officials to be part of an unholy nexus with persons who were behind thefts that were reported in the city. This has resulted in a situation where perpetrators of crimes were protected from being brought to book, he said.

In a statement, Mr. Sivankutty said over 500 cases had been reported in the city during the past month. This was a reflection of the inefficacy of the police in maintaining law and order, he added.

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