Sullia Police on 28-01-2006, in the course of investigation of a theft case, on receiving information about the location of one suspect Jaykar Kotyan aged 36 yrs, belonging to Pachhanadi, Mangalore, immediately sent a team and nabbed him from Puttur KSRTC Bus Stand. On subjecting the suspect to interrogation a series of offences relating to lifting of suitcases in busses came to light. The modus of this accused has been to observe gullible passengers in a bus stand and on targeting one of them, he would board the same bus after purchasing a ticket. At an opportune moment when the targeted passenger would alight from the bus temporarily for meals etc; he would get off from the bus along with the suitcase of that passenger. His usual route of operation was between Mangalore and Sullia. The offences that came to light are
1. Puttur town PS Cr. No. 08/06 u/s 379 IPC, wherein a lady Smt Jyothilaxmi boarded for Bangalore from Puttur on 21-04-2005, lost her suitcase containing gold jewellery worth about 2 lakhs and cash to the tune of Rs 25000/-.
1. Puttur town PS Cr. No. 08/06 u/s 379 IPC, wherein a lady Smt Jyothilaxmi boarded for Bangalore from Puttur on 21-04-2005, lost her suitcase containing gold jewellery worth about 2 lakhs and cash to the tune of Rs 25000/-.
2. Sullia PS Cr. No. 65/05 u/s 379 IPC; wherein the accused stole a bag belonging to one Shri B A Khader of Mangalore, while he was on his way towards Madikeri in a KSRTC Bus. The offence was commited when the victim left his seat at Sullia bus stand to answer natures call. The bag contained gold jewellery worth Rs 48000/-
3. Sullia PS Cr. No. 135/05 u/s 379 IPC; wherein the accused stole the bag belonging to one Smt. Shushma of Mangalore, who was on her way to Kushalanagara. The offence was committed at Sullia Bus stand when the victim left her seat along with her children for the sake of drinking water. The bag contained gold jewellery worth Rs 35000/-
The accused usually sold off his booty at a jewellery shop in Mangalore from where the investigating team recovered most of the jewels yesterday on 29-01-2006. About 407 grams of gold jewellery valuing about 3 lakhs 63 thousand have been recovered. With some part of the property yet to be recovered the local police have produced the offender before the magistrate and asked for police custody to complete the investigation process. Further enquiry into any other offences committed by him and presence of any accomplice is to be looked into. Cases are under investigation.
