Kutch East police arrested two members of a Rajasthan-based gang accused of stealing valuables worth Rs1.85 lakh from the statue of Lord Parshvanath at Namaskar Tirth Chhadavada, located along the Bhachau–Samakhiyali National Highway, on November 22.
Temple manager Lalkumar Shrivastav (52) filed a complaint after silver ornaments, imitation necklaces, and cash were discovered missing.
Acting on technical surveillance and CCTV inputs, police tracked the suspects to the jungles of Gongda Ghati in Rajasthan. Following an overnight search, officers arrested Bhimaram alias Bhimo Garasiya (25) and Mohanlal Garasiya (38). A third accused, Hiraram alias Hariya Garasiya, who has four criminal cases registered against him in Rajasthan, remains absconding.
Kutch East SP Sagar Bagmar said police recovered Rs1.83 lakh worth of valuables, including gold and silver crowns. CCTV footage captured the men breaking a stone grill to enter the temple at night and stealing ornaments and cash from the donation box.
Police said the gang, linked to stone-grinding and artisan work, fled towards Rajasthan after committing the crime. Further efforts are underway to nab the absconding suspect.
