Udupi: Padubidre police have arrested three women in connection with the theft of a gold necklace from an elderly devotee during the annual festival at Hejamadi Sri Brahma Baiderkal Temple in Udupi district. The incident occurred amid the festive rush, taking advantage of the crowded temple premises.

The accused have been identified as Sheetal, Kaliyamma, and Maari (40), all residents of Krishnagiri Mariyammabedi in Tamil Nadu. Police said the women allegedly targeted elderly devotees and used distraction tactics to commit the theft.

Incident during temple festival

According to the police, Kamala (78), an elderly devotee, had visited the temple on December 24 to participate in festival rituals and offer prayers. After completing the rituals, it was noticed that her gold necklace was missing.

Sharda Poojary, who was assisting devotees at the temple, reportedly observed that Kamala appeared distressed and later realised that the gold chain she was wearing was no longer around her neck. Temple authorities were immediately alerted about the suspected theft.

CCTV footage reveals theft

On December 25, the temple management reviewed footage from the CCTV cameras installed on the premises. The footage allegedly showed the three women approaching Kamala and engaging her in conversation under the pretext of offering help.

Police said the accused distracted the elderly woman by holding her hands and speaking to her, while one of them allegedly removed the gold necklace without her noticing. The stolen necklace weighed about three sovereigns, officials confirmed.

Based on the CCTV evidence, a formal complaint was lodged at the Padubidre police station, following which an investigation was initiated.

Accused traced and arrested

Acting on leads gathered from the CCTV footage and intelligence inputs, Padubidre police traced the accused to Puttur. All three women were arrested and taken into custody without incident.

Officials stated that the accused were produced before the Udupi court, which remanded them to police custody for further investigation. Police are now probing whether the accused were involved in similar thefts at temples or crowded public places in the region.

Police caution devotees

Police have cautioned devotees, especially senior citizens, to remain vigilant during temple festivals and other crowded events. They advised people to avoid wearing valuable jewellery in large gatherings and to seek assistance only from known volunteers or temple staff.

Conclusion

The swift action by Padubidre police, aided by CCTV surveillance, led to the quick arrest of the accused and recovery efforts. The case highlights the importance of security measures and public awareness during religious festivals that draw large crowds.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain if the accused are part of a larger chain-snatching network operating across districts or states.