Chitradurga: Bharamasagara police have arrested a four-member gang allegedly involved in repeated arecanut thefts reported across several villages in and around the area over the past two months. The arrests were made on Friday, January 2, after investigators traced the suspects using mobile phone tower location data.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mohan Kumar, a resident of Gollarahatti in Bharamasagara, Kolli Umesh, Karibasappa of Chaulihalli, and Anjinappa from Heggere village.
Police said the investigation was launched following complaints of arecanut thefts reported at 15 to 20 locations in plantations spread across Bharamasagara, Heggere, Kolahal, Arabaghatta, Yalagodu and Basavanashivanakere villages. During the probe, officers analysed mobile phone tower data of suspected individuals, which helped establish their movement patterns and link them to the thefts.
Based on the technical evidence, the four accused were taken into custody on Friday night. They were produced before a magistrate on Saturday morning and were subsequently remanded to judicial custody.
A case has been registered at the Bharamasagara Police Station, and further investigation is underway to determine whether the gang was involved in similar thefts in other areas.
