Udupi: Karkala town police have arrested two persons in connection with the theft of copper sheets from the Parashurama Theme Park located atop Bailoor Ummikallu Hill in Karkala. The arrests come after a focused investigation involving multiple police teams, with officers recovering stolen materials and vehicles used in the commission of the crime. Police officials said further efforts are under way to trace other persons who may have been involved in the theft.

The accused have been identified as Areef alias Munna, 37, a resident of Shantinagar, Talapady in Dakshina Kannada district, currently staying at Churchgudde, Kalavaru in Mangaluru taluk, and Abdul Hameed, 32, a resident of Ullas Nagar near Airport Road in Kavoor. Both accused are known to the police, with multiple criminal cases registered against them in the past.

Theft reported from theme park premises

The incident occurred on January 3, when unknown persons allegedly broke open the main entrance of the Parashurama Theme Park building and stole copper cladding sheets fixed to the roof of the structure. The theft was noticed later, following which a complaint was lodged with the Karkala town police.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Sections 331(3), 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Given the importance of the project and the sensitivity surrounding the theft from a government-backed infrastructure site, the police treated the matter with priority.

Special teams formed to crack the case

Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar constituted three special teams to trace the accused and recover the stolen property. These teams carried out intensive search operations across Udupi district, Dakshina Kannada district and Mangaluru city.

Police officials said the teams collected technical and human intelligence, tracked the movement of suspects and gathered credible information that ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the accused. The coordinated effort enabled the police to crack the case within a short span of time.

SP Shankar appreciated the teams for their swift and systematic investigation, stating that crimes targeting public infrastructure would be dealt with firmly.

Criminal antecedents of accused

Police records show that Areef alias Munna is a habitual offender with more than nine criminal cases registered against him at various police stations. These include cases at Padubidri, Udupi town, Brahmavar, Karkala Rural, Mulki and Moodbidri police stations.

Abdul Hameed also has a criminal background, with previous cases registered against him at Bajpe and Moodbidri police stations. Officials said the past involvement of the accused in similar offences helped investigators narrow down suspects during the course of the probe.

Recovery of stolen property and vehicles

Following the arrests, the police recovered 51 kg of stolen copper sheets, estimated to be worth Rs 45,000. In addition, two ceiling fans valued at around Rs 1,200 were also recovered from the possession of the accused.

Police further seized the vehicles allegedly used in the commission of the crime. These include a goods auto-rickshaw valued at approximately Rs 1 lakh and a motorcycle worth around Rs 70,000. The total value of all seized property, including stolen items and vehicles, has been estimated at around Rs 2.2 lakh.

Officials said the recovery was made based on information provided by the accused during interrogation.

Investigation continues

Police have indicated that the investigation is still in progress. Efforts are being made to ascertain whether more people were involved in the theft or if the accused acted with the help of local contacts.

Investigators are also examining whether the stolen copper sheets were intended to be sold as scrap or used for other purposes. Further questioning of the accused is expected to provide clarity on the larger network, if any, behind the crime.

Concern over security at public projects

The theft has once again highlighted concerns over security at large public infrastructure projects, particularly those that are under construction or yet to be fully commissioned. Officials have reiterated the need for proper security arrangements, including surveillance and restricted access, to prevent such incidents.

Police officials said strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to damage or steal materials from public projects, as such acts result in financial loss and delays in completion.

Conclusion

With the arrest of two habitual offenders and the recovery of stolen property, the police have made significant progress in the Parashurama Theme Park theft case. Authorities have assured that the remaining accused, if any, will be traced and brought to justice. The case serves as a reminder of the need for robust security measures at public infrastructure sites to safeguard valuable assets and public investment.