Karkala: West Bengal–based accused arrested for targeting locked houses

Mangalore Today News Network

Karkala, Jan 19, 2026: The Karkala Rural Police have arrested an accused from West Bengal who was involved in thefts by breaking the locks of vacant houses in the jurisdiction of the Karkala Rural Police Station.

The arrested accused has been identified as Manotosh Kayal (39), a native of West Bengal and currently residing at Ganjimath, Mogaru village, Mangaluru.

The accused used to roam around various localities during morning hours, identify houses that had been locked and vacant for several days, break open the locks, and commit theft. A case has been registered against him at the Karkala Rural Police Station in Crime No. 143/2025 under Sections 331(3) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. It has been found that a battery kept in the house was stolen in this case.

Under the guidance of Udupi District Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar and Additional Superintendent of Police Sudhakar, and as per the directions of Karkala Sub-Division Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabhu D.T., a team led by Karkala CPI Manjappa successfully arrested the accused. The team included Karkala Rural PSI Prasanna M.S., PSI Sundar, ASI Prakash, ASI Sundar Gowda, Head Constables Rudresh and Chandrashekar, Police Constables Santosh and Mantesh, along with Dinesh from the District and CDR division.

The arrested accused was produced before the court, which has remanded him to judicial custody.