Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (GA)
Sullia, Feb 1: The Sullia police arrested a suitcase lifter on Saturday January 28 at Puttur KSRTC bus stand who is said to have been involved in many more cases earlier. The arrested Jaykar Kotian (36), a resident of Pacchanadi in Mangalore is said to have been involved in a series of offences relating to lifting of suitcases in busses.
His modus operandi was very simple. He used to observe the gullible passengers in a bus stand and on targeting one of them, he would board the same bus after purchasing a ticket. At an opportune moment when the targeted passenger would alight from the bus temporarily for meals or something else he would alight from the bus along with the suitcase of that passenger. His usual route of operation was between Mangalore and Sullia.
During interrogation he revealed that he was behind many such cases in the past. Prominent among them was the stealing of suitcase containing god jewellery worth 2 lac and cash to the tune of Rs 25000 of one Jyotilakshmi who was on her way to Bangalore from Puttur on April 4, 2005.
The accused had also stolen a bag belonging to one B A Khader of Mangalore, while the latter was on his way to Madikeri in a KSRTC bus. The offence was committed when the victim left his seat at Sullia bus stand to answer nature's call. The bag contained gold jewellery worth Rs 48,000.
Sullia police reports also said that Jaykar Kotian was behind the stealing of a bag of one Shushma of Mangalore, who was on her way to Kushalanagara. The offence was committed at Sullia bus stand when the victim left her seat along with her children for the sake of drinking water. The bag contained gold jewellery worth Rs 35,000.
The accused usually sold off his booty at a jewellery shop in Mangalore from where the investigating team recovered most of the jewels on Sunday January 29. The police have recovered 407 grams of Gold jewellery worth Rs 3 lac and Rs 63,000 in cash. The police are yet to lay their hands on some more booty stolen by Jaykar.
He has been remanded to police custody after producing him before the court. Investigations are on to unearth the hand of the accused in many more cases and also to know whether he had any accomplice to assist him.