Palanpur: An inter-district gang allegedly involved in stealing valuables from 22 temples across Patan, Mehsana and Banaskantha districts was busted with the arrest of four persons.Police recovered gold and silver ornaments, vehicles and mobile phones worth Rs 6.70 lakh from them.The accused visited temples during the day under the pretext of offering prayers to conduct reconnaissance and later returned to target isolated temples.A team of the Patan Local Crime Branch (LCB), while patrolling in the Saraswati police station area, received information that some persons were travelling towards Patan in an Eeco car to sell stolen valuables. Police intercepted the vehicle and arrested four men. Silver umbrellas and other stolen articles were recovered from their possession.According to deputy SP Paresh Renuka, the gang had been active for about a month and had committed thefts at 22 temples in the three districts. Cases related to the thefts have been registered at Saraswati and Gadh police stations.The accused were identified as Anand Nayak, Mukeshji alias Kalu Umedji Thakor, Yogesh alias Lalo Nayak and Janak alias Tino Nayak, all residents of Kalyana village in Siddhpur taluka of Patan district.The seized property includes gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 2.55 lakh, an Eeco car worth Rs 3 lakh, a CNG rickshaw worth Rs 1 lakh and four mobile phones worth Rs 15,500. The accused have been remanded in the custody of Saraswati police for further investigation.
