Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (SP)

Shivamogga, Dec 7: Five persons, who have been accused of assaulting security staff at Saibaba Mandir located at Bidare here and stolen things from there, stand arrested. This was informed by district superintendent of police, K M Shantaraju, addressing a press meet here on Friday December 6.

Kingpin of the operation, Muhammed Ismail (49) from Pudu, Farangipet in Bantwal taluk, who had been hiding, was taken into custody from Sakrebail area on Wednesday. Other members of this gang, Premanath alias Premdas (18) from Kurukal village, Udupi, Mohammed Ghouse alias Munna Cheyab (34) from Farangipet, Bantwal, Tausif Ahmed (30) from Suvarna Nagara, Moodbidri, and Thimmaiah alias Thimma from B Eradakere village in Kadur taluk were taken into custody on Friday from near Santhekadur on Narasimharajapura road, he said.

The superintendent of police said that all the accused have been remanded to judicial custody. A car, a country-made pistol, nine live cartridges, Rs 24,500 in cash, a raincoat, jerkin, monkey cap, iron rod and other things used for the robbery have been seized from their possession.

The gang had robbed Saibaba Mandir on November 25 and stolen about Rs 50,000 from the donation box. They had tied up the security staff at the shrine and assaulted them. A complaint thereafter was lodged in rural police station here.