Two arrested in Kulayi house burglary involving theft of deity idols

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 29, 2026: Surathkal police have arrested two accused in connection with a burglary in which idols of local deities and a television were stolen from a house in Kulayi.

The arrested persons have been identified as Wajeed J alias Waji (27) of Chokkabettu and Syed Ali (40) of Jokatte. Property worth several lakh rupees has been recovered from the accused.

The burglary took place on the night of December 26, 2025, at a house near Yashoda Clinic in Kulayi village. The burglars gained entry by removing roof tiles and stole idols of local deities along with related ritual articles, a television, and other valuables. A complaint in this regard was filed by Amita.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case on December 27, reporting the theft of articles worth around ₹1 lakh, including a copper idol of Pasappa Daiva, a silver idol of Mantradevata, a copper idol of Kallurti Panjurli Daiva, a silver sword, two copper bells, four copper vessels, and an LED television.

Using CCTV footage from the area, police traced and detained Wajeed J for questioning. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to the theft and revealed that he had sold the brass and copper articles to Syed Ali of Jokatte.

Syed Ali was taken into custody on January 27, and police recovered from his house a silver Mantradevata idol, an umbrella and sword collectively worth about ₹1.95 lakh, brass ritual articles worth approximately ₹2,750, copper ritual items worth about ₹300, a television and set-top box, two mobile phones used by the accused, and a scooter worth around ₹30,000 that was stolen from the Kavoor police station limits.

Police said that accused Wajeed has a ‘B’ rowdy sheet and a modus operandi book (MOB) opened against him at the Surathkal police station. He is involved in several cases across Mangaluru city, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, and Hassan districts, including one attempt to murder, two robberies, three cattle theft cases, six house burglaries, three vehicle thefts, and one other criminal case. He had been absconding without appearing before the court, following which a warrant had been issued against him.

Both the accused were produced before the court on January 28, and the court remanded them to judicial custody.