Constable held in Ullal after residents accuse him of theft

Residents of Pilar in Ullal have accused a 32-year-old Karnataka State Reserve Police constable of attempting to steal articles from a house of an advocate on Tuesday night. The Ullal police have arrested the constable.

The residents, who suspected that he may not be charged of theft, gathered in a large number outside the police station and sought proper action against him.

According to advocate Anand Gatti, the complainant, his wife heard the sound of a person climbing the stairs of their building in the middle of the night. She woke up Mr. Gatti, who saw a person coming down the stairs. Before he could catch hold of him, the person fled the scene after scaling the compound wall.

Mr. Gatti claimed that the same person had attempted to steal articles from his parents’ house, which was adjoining to his house, on July 29. Mr. Gatti and a few of his neighbours later found the scooter which the intruder had allegedly used. They found his purse, ATM card and his mobile phone in the vehicle. They used the mobile phone and identified him as Vishal, a KSRP constable, working in Assaigoli.

On a complaint filed by Mr. Gatti, Ullal police arrested Mr. Vishal. The police said Vishal had stated that he had gone to Mr. Gatti’s house but maintained that he wanted to pluck tender coconut and not commit any theft. Mr. Gatti and other residents said police need to interrogate and find persons associated with Mr. Vishal.

‘Police not acting’

Residents, who had gathered at the Ullal police station, said they have been having sleepless nights for several days following increase in the number of thefts and alleged police inaction. Sadashiv Shetty, a Pilar resident, said thieves went away with 60 grams of gold ornaments from his father’s house on July 29 about which a case has been registered.