The Ahmedabad city crime branch arrested two men, Mohammed Aminoor Pathan (30) and Yasin Shaikh (32), both residents of Shah-e-Alam and originally from West Bengal, on Monday for their involvement in stealing valuable idols from temples in Gujarat. The duo is accused of stealing traditional five-metal alloy idols and silver idols from the Shantinath Jain Derasar in Nemnagar, Bilimora.
During preliminary interrogation, the accused admitted to being involved in seven other similar thefts at temples and derasars across Gujarat. They also revealed that their accomplice, Ahesamuddin Shaikh, had fled to Kolkata. The crime branch contacted the Kolkata Railway Protection Force (RPF), who successfully detained Ahesamuddin in connection with the ongoing investigations.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bharat Patel, the arrested men were found in possession of stolen items worth approximately Rs 7.01 lakh, including two silver bricks, cash, a sacred idol, and silver lamps. Patel further confirmed that the accused were not only involved in the Bilimora theft but also in several other thefts across the state.
The police are also investigating whether any of the accused attempted to cross the border from Kolkata into Bangladesh, possibly to sell the stolen items. The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the full scope of their criminal activities.
