Ranchi: Three individuals have been arrested on charges of murdering the guard of Jagannath Mandir and stealing over Rs 3 lakh from a donation box on Thursday night, Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rakesh Ranjan announced on Saturday.
Details of the Arrest
The arrested individuals have been identified as Dev Kumar, Vikas Mahli, and Ayush Kumar, all residents of New Colony, Jagannathpur, under the Dhurwa police station limits, the SSP added.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to SSP Ranjan, the assailants broke into the temple on Thursday night with the intention of stealing money from the donation box. They found the guard, Birsa Munda (60), sleeping on the premises. Fearing identification, they struck him on the head with a stone, killing him. Birsa resided in Niladri, which is near the New Colony area. The perpetrators then stole over Rs 3 lakh from the donation box. On Friday, they used the stolen money to purchase clothes and shoes from shops on the main road.
Investigation and Recovery
Based on closed-circuit television camera footage, as well as technical and human intelligence, a police team led by SP (City) Paras Rana detained the three accused from different areas of Dhurwa. They have confessed to the crime. Following their revelations, Rs 3 lakh was recovered from the homes of the three accused. Additionally, the stone and rod used in the crime have been seized, SSP Ranjan stated.
Criminal Background
Dev Kumar is an accused in four cases registered with the Jagannathpur, Vidhan Sabha, and Dhurwa police stations, while Vikas Mahli was previously booked in a case lodged with the Sukhdevnagar police station.
