Temple thefts across DK: 5 held after their associate dies in road accident

[email protected] (CD Network | Suresh)
September 26, 2016

Mangaluru, Sep 26: With the arrest of five members of a notorious gang of inter-state thieves, Dakshina Kannada district police have cracked a series of temple theft cases reported from across the coastal district.

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The arrested have been identified as Chandrakanth Poojary (36) from Manki in Honnavar taluk, Narasimharaju alias Basavaraju (38) from Doddaballapur taluk, Navinchandra Baan Singh (21) Vijaya Suresh Bhonsle (35) and Vishal Ponke (21), all three from Thane, Maharashtra.

Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase told media persons that the arrested were part of a six member gang of thieves, among whom one lost his life in a road accident a couple of months ago.

He said that the gang had stolen gold and silver articles worth Rs 12.5 lakh in the last six months from various temples in the district including Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Adyapadi village, Mangaluru ; Sri Subrahmanya Temple, Thokur, Mangaluru; Sri Panchalingeshwara Temple, Ishwaramangala, Puttur; Sri Panchalingeshwara Temple, Uruwalu village, Belthangady; Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, Anaru, Patrame village, Belthangady; Sri Vishnumurthy Temple, Savanuru village, Putturu; Sri Umamaheshwari Temple, Balya village, Puttur; Sri Anantapadmanabha Temple, Ramakunja, Puttur; Sri Ullalthi Ammanavara Temple, Nuji, Puttur and Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple, Rayi, Bantwal.

The arrested were involved in temple thefts in other parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra. All of them were wanted by both Karnataka and Maharashtra police.

Their associate Prakash Mandya was killed in a road accident in Nelamangala, Bengaluru while he was returning after theft at Ullalthi Ammanavara Temple, Nuji, Puttur. Chandrakanth Poojary had escaped with minor injuries in the same accident.

Explaining the modus operandi of the thieves, the SP said that the gang used to target the temples that lack security measures such as security guards, CCTV cameras and burglar alarms.

Then they used to sell all stolen articles to Vishal, a small merchant in Mumbai after making him believe that they were the antique ornaments from the temples.

Mr Borase said that the police have seized 22 kg silver and 75 gram gold ornaments worth Rs 12.5 lakh from the possession of Vishal. All the seized ornaments will be handed over to the temple authorities after obtaining permission from the court, he said.

A special investigation team had been formed by the DK police to trace the temple thieves, after a series of temple burglary cases were reported in a few months. Additional SP Dr C B Vedamurty, Puttur ASP Rishyanth, DySP Gowrish, DCIB PI Amanulla, Puttur Rural CPI?Anil Kulkarni, PSI Abdul Khader, PSI Ratan Kumar, ASI Sanjiva Purusha, Palanivel, Udaya Rai, Iqbal A E, Taranath S, Lakshman and Pravin M Beltangady were part of the DCIB team. 

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News Network
April 13,2024

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Mangaluru: After as the state health ministry issued guidelines to the public in view of a heatwave, the health department in Dakshina Kannada has advised people to be cautious about the impact of heatstroke, including heat rash, heat edema, heat cramps, heat tetany, heat syncope, and heat exhaustion.

Dakshina Kannada district nodal officer for climate change, Dr Naveenchandra Kulal, said that the impact of heat-related illness can also be found in the district, when there is a variation of about 4.5⁰C from the normal temperature.

Dr Kulal told media persons here on Friday, that the impact of heat-related illness is not confined to Raichur, Kalaburagi, and other North Karnataka districts.

“Those who reside inside tin sheet houses and closed environments are likely to suffer from heatstroke. People should hydrate themselves by drinking more water and avoid working under the direct Sun. Heat exhaust fans can be used. Though no heatstroke cases have been reported in the district, any negligence may cause heatstroke,” he said. 

DHO Dr Thimmaiah HR said that hotels and restaurants should supply boiled water, and they should clean the overhead tanks once every three months. The filter of drinking water units should be cleaned frequently, he said.

He also directed paying guest accommodations to supply fresh food to inmates.

“We have received complaints of many paying guest accommodations serving sambar cooked the previous day to inmates. Stale food should be avoided, as there are chances of food contamination. Plastics should be avoided while packing food in hotels. As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, the use of plastic to pack hot food is restricted,” the DHO said.

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News Network
April 11,2024

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BJP MLA Arabail Shivaram Hebbar’s son Vivek Hebbar on Thursday, 11 April, joined the Congress party along with his supporters at Banavasi in Uttara Kannada district.

After quitting the BJP, Vivek Hebbar joined the party in the presence of state Congress vice president and former MLC Ivan D’Souza and other local party leaders.

Speculations have been rife about his father Shivaram Hebbar, an MLA from the Yellapur Assembly segment, also planning to join the Congress, ever since he did not turn up for voting during the polls to four seats of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka held on 27 February.

The senior Hebbar’s absence from voting, despite a party whip, had caused embarrassment to the BJP. He had, however, later attributed his absence to poor health.

The BJP had also issued notice to him, which he responded to.

Shivaram Hebbar had recently met Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief DK Shivakumar but claimed that the meeting was about water issues in his Assembly segment.

The senior BJP leader was earlier with the Congress. He was among 17 Congress-JD(S) legislators, who had quit from their parties, which ultimately led to the collapse of the then HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July 2019.

Shivaram Hebbar had subsequently won the by-poll on a BJP ticket and served as a minister in the then government of the saffron party.

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News Network
April 11,2024

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Udupi: A middle aged couple lost their lives while their teenage son survived with critical wounds after a speeding car, which was travelling from Maharashtra to Kerala, fell off a flyover in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district. 

The deceased have been identified as Munnavar (49), who was driving the car, and his wife Sameera (41), a native of Kannur in Kerala. Their son Suhail (18), who was in the car, suffered severe injured and is recovering at Manipal Hospital. He is said to be out of danger.

The family was traveling from Kollapur to Kannur as Sameera was a native of Kannur. Their plan was to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in Sameera’s parental home.  

However, on Tuesday (April 9) morning, when the car reached near Bobbaryanakatte, it reportedly went out of control of the driver and fell off the flyover on to the service road.

All three were immediately rushed to the hospital in Kundapur. Sameera died immediately upon admission to the hospital, while Munnavar succumbed to injuries at Manipal Hospital on April 10. The mortal remains of both were handed over to relatives after the post-mortem.

Kundapur DySp Belliyappa, Circle Inspector Nada Kunar, Traffic SIs Naveen Naik, and Savitri Nayak visited the accident spot for the inspection.

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