Date:04/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020415090500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

One held in Rajyalaxmi jewellers dacoity case

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 3. The Hyderabad City police on Thursday claimed to have achieved a breakthrough in the Rajyalaxmi Jewellers dacoity case with the arrest of one person in Mumbai.

The City Police Commissioner, V. Dinesh Reddy, told a press conference here that the Mumbai and Hyderabad police in a joint operation arrested one, Gopal Ramanna Shetty alias Mini Gopal, (30).

The police recovered gold ornaments weighing 1.24 kg from him. The nine-member gang had looted 25 kg jewellery worth Rs. 1.5 crores on December 26, 2003 from the shop located on the busy Abids area, minutes before it was to be closed.

Mr. Reddy said the Mumbai police arrested Gopal in connection with some other offence. During interrogation Gopal revealed that he and eight others had executed the plan to loot the jewellery shop. The others involved were identified as -- Vasant Narayan Shetty, Radhakrishna Bharat Shetty, Raju Malbari, Purushottam, Ravi Gouda, Lokesh, Vinesh and Vishu Pujari.

Mr. Reddy said the gang members were from Karnataka and were involved in several offences in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat. He said Gopal would be brought to the city shortly.

Mr. Reddy said soon after committing the dacoity, the culprits fled to Mumbai, adding that more details would come out only after questioning Gopal.

Plea to house owners

With burglaries on the rise, Mr. Reddy asked house owners going out of station, to inform the local police station about their travel plan well in advance so that a watch can be kept on the houses.

He said the number of burglaries in 2004 had almost doubled compared to the previous years. "We will press the Blue Colts into service to patrol areas in the afternoon while night patrolling will be intensified. Even neighbours can keep a watch," he said.