In a major breakthrough, Kanyakumari district police solved 12 cases, including robberies, waylaying and house break-ins, and recovered close to 90 sovereigns of jewels and other valuables totalling Rs. 20 lakh.
Speaking to reporters, Superintendent of Police Manivannan said on Sunday that following complaints of various crimes, special teams were formed. Based on inputs gathered from different sources, the movements of suspects were closely monitored. A prime accused, identified as Vinod alias Vinod Kumar of Thuckalay, was nabbed at a bus stop in Coimbatore district.
He had committed offences in Anjugramam, Kanyakumari, Thuckalay and other places.
The teams, comprising ASP Vikranth Patil, ADSPs Thangasami and Ilango, and DSP Eswaran, described the catch as big since the accused evaded arrest for a long time.
After his confession, the teams recovered 63 sovereigns of gold jewels and electronic gadgets, including a laptop and mobile phones, from him. His accomplice K. Kanagaraj of Kumarapuram was arrested by another team. Then, two others, Madurai Veeran and Murugan, were arrested and 26 sovereigns were recovered from them.
The arrested persons mainly burgle locked houses. They also indulged waylaying and chain-snatching in and around Anna bus stand here, Peruvilai and Putheri.
The police have planned to install more CCTV cameras in the peripheries and coastal stretches to prevent crimes.
The SP said that they would soon take custody of Thatha Senthil – a close aide of Venkatesa Pannaiyar – who was arrested by Chennai Ambattur police for interrogation.
Luxury car recovered
In another case, the police recovered a luxury car belonging to Shanmugarajakumar of Kalakkad in Tirunelveli district from a four-member gang.
The police said that in August 2013, the complainant had given his Innova car to Ahamad Meera Sahib of Nagercoil on an agreement that the latter would pay a monthly rental of Rs. 50,000.
However, Sahib and three of his friends had paid the rent for a few months and allegedly refused to honour the agreement. When Shanmugarajakumar demanded return of his car, they threatened him with dire consequences, following which he lodged the complaint.
A special team secured Sahib, Ahamed Mohideen and another person and recovered the car.
