Mangaluru: Barke police have arrested a 42-year-old woman for allegedly stealing a gold chain weighing 10 grams from a three-and-a-half-year-old girl during a wedding ceremony at TMA Pai Hall in Kodialbail, Mangaluru, on October 18.
The stolen gold chain, which had a pendant, was valued at approximately Rs 1.35 lakh. Police recovered the chain from the arrested woman, identified as Minnath, a resident of Akkarakere in Ullal who originally hails from Kotepura in Ullal.
According to Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH, the incident occurred at around 3 pm when an unidentified woman allegedly snatched the chain from the child’s neck during the wedding ceremony.
Following a complaint by Sheemabanu, Barke police registered a case and launched an investigation. The police traced and arrested the accused on October 19, within 24 hours of the reported theft.
Gold chain stolen during wedding ceremony
The incident took place at TMA Pai Hall in Kodialbail, where a wedding ceremony was underway. Amid the gathering of guests and other attendees, the accused allegedly removed the gold chain from the young girl’s neck.
The chain weighed 10 grams and included a pendant, with its total value estimated at Rs 1.35 lakh.
After the incident came to light, the girl’s family approached Barke police and lodged a complaint. The police registered a case under Section 304(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and began efforts to identify the person responsible.
Investigators subsequently traced the accused and recovered the stolen jewellery. The arrest was made on October 19, a day after the incident.
Police invoke organised crime provision
During the investigation, police found that the arrested woman was allegedly involved in several other theft cases.
According to the police, three theft cases have been registered against her at Ullal police station and five at Konaje police station. Another case has also been registered against her, taking the total number of cases to nine.
These cases are pending trial before the court, according to the police.
In view of her alleged involvement in multiple cases, police have also invoked Section 112 of the BNS, which deals with organised crime. Further investigation is underway to establish the circumstances of the incident and examine the accused’s alleged involvement in other offences.
The police have not indicated whether any additional recoveries or arrests are expected in connection with the case.
Barke police team conducts operation
The arrest and recovery were carried out by Barke police as part of the investigation into the reported theft at the wedding venue.
Police station sub-inspectors Gurappa Kanti and Vinayak Thoragal, along with other staff members, participated in the operation.
The swift action resulted in the recovery of the gold chain and the arrest of the accused within 24 hours of the complaint being registered.
The case highlights the importance of vigilance at crowded public gatherings, including wedding ceremonies, where valuables can become targets for theft. Police have continued their investigation into the incident and the other cases reportedly linked to the accused.