Police in Karkala town have successfully cracked a theft case involving the iconic Parashurama Theme Park located on Bailoor Ummikallu Hill. Two individuals have been taken into custody for allegedly stealing valuable copper cladding sheets from the park's building structure.
The Arrests and Criminal Backgrounds
The Karkala Town Police identified and arrested the two accused involved in the daring theft. Areef, also known as Munna, aged 37, originally from Shantinagar, Talapady in Dakshina Kannada district but currently living at Churchgudde, Kalavaru in Mangaluru taluk, was apprehended. His accomplice is Abdul Hameed, aged 32, a resident of Ullas Nagar near Airport Road in Kavoor.
Investigations revealed that both men have significant criminal records. Areef has more than nine criminal cases registered against him at police stations across Padubidri, Udupi town, Brahmavar, Karkala Rural, Mulki, and Moodbidri. Abdul Hameed also has previous cases filed against him at the Bajpe and Moodbidri police stations.
Details of the Theft and Investigation
The theft occurred on January 3, when unidentified persons forcibly broke open the main entrance of the theme park building. Their target was the copper cladding sheets fixed to the roof of the structure. Following a formal complaint, the Karkala Town Police Station registered a case under sections 331(3), 331(4), and 305 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Given the sensitivity of the case, which involved a public landmark, Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar constituted three special teams dedicated to tracing the culprits. These teams conducted extensive search operations across Udupi district, Dakshina Kannada district, and Mangaluru city. Their efforts yielded credible information that directly led to the identification and subsequent arrest of the two accused.
Recovery of Stolen Property and Vehicles
The police investigation led to a major recovery of stolen property and the vehicles used in the crime. According to SP Hariram Shankar, the recovered items include:
- 51 kilograms of stolen copper sheets, valued at approximately Rs 45,000.
- Two ceiling fans worth Rs 1,200.
- The vehicles used for the theft: a goods auto-rickshaw valued at around Rs 1 lakh and a motorcycle worth about Rs 70,000.
The total estimated value of all seized objects is around Rs 2.2 lakh. Police authorities have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to track down other individuals who may have been involved in this incident.
This arrest highlights the effectiveness of coordinated police action in tackling property crimes and protecting public infrastructure in the region.
