Kerala, Thrissur: In Thrissur District, an inter-district thief named Manaf, implicated in 25 theft cases, has been arrested. Manaf, 45, also known as Muhammadali Makan, was detained at Mallad Pudhuveet. Earlier this month, following the theft at the Althara Govindapuram Temple, Vadakkedakad police registered a case and launched an investigation. That same day, a motorcycle and a bicycle were stolen from a house on Nalapat Road.
CCTV footage from Govindapuram Temple showed a masked and gloved individual, prompting police to split into two teams and review footage from around 200 cameras to identify the suspect. The footage revealed that after stealing a bicycle from Atupura, the suspect proceeded to the temple, where he broke in and took cash. The police faced challenges locating Manaf, as he was not using a mobile phone.
Then, on Monday morning, a similar theft occurred at the Punna Ayyappa Temple and the Nariampulli Temple, where a Panchaloha idol and a gold crown were stolen. Upon receiving this information, a team led by Vadakkedakad SHO inspected both temples. Further investigations pointed to Manaf’s involvement, as the theft pattern was similar to the Govindapuram incident.
Eventually, Manaf was tracked down in Iringalakuda, where he was hiding in a rented house. Police recovered stolen items from his residence, including a Vishnu idol and a gold crown taken from the Nariampulli Temple. Additionally, a melted silver golaka from the Govindapuram Temple and stolen money were also retrieved.
Manaf had previously been arrested in connection with the Perumpadapp Kattu Math Temple theft and had been hiding in Iringalakuda since his release in June, committing thefts in Chavakkad and Vadakkedakad areas at night. Due to the string of temple thefts, a team—under the direction of Thrissur City Police Commissioner Ilango and led by Guruvayoor ACP Biju MK—conducted the investigation and ultimately apprehended Manaf. Key team members included Vadakkedakad SHO Anand KP, SI Maraya Gopinathan CN, Sudhir PA, Yusuf KA, Sabu PS, ASI Rajan, CPO Satish Chandran, Robert, Hari, Ratheesh Kumar, and Cyber Police Station CPO Nithin.
Known as “Marapatti Manaf,” the accused has prior convictions for theft and was subsequently presented in court, where he was remanded.
