The city police on Saturday claimed that they have solved last year’s back-to-back twin incidents of theft in temples ofChoudwar town on the outskirts of Cuttack.
City DCP Prateek Singh said a 30-year-old youth from Kendrapada district, Biprakeshari Samantray alias Hari, during a custodial interrogation has confessed his involvement in the incidents. Singh said the Choudwar police have recovered most of the stolen items from Hari, a habitual offender having cases pending against him in at least seven police stations of the State.
“More arrests in these two cases cannot be ruled out,” the DCP said.
Giving details of the police investigation and interrogation in custody of the accused, Singh said Hari was arrested by the city police on April 14 this year, almost five months after the temple theft incidents that occurred in November last year. “During these days while police were constantly tracking his movements, he often remained underground.”
However soon after his arrest, Hari was taken under police remand on Friday; and during custodial interrogation, he admitted his involvement in the two temple theft incidents.
Police have recovered from him at least nine stolen items, including a gold mangalsutra, five silver crowns of the deities and several brass utensils of the temple.