Police crack Vajreshwari temple dacoity; five held

Police Tuesday claimed to have cracked the May 10 dacoity committed in famous Vajreshwari temple in Maharashtra's Thane district by arresting five persons from various villages, a senior officer said.

Police also recovered Rs 2.83 lakh out of Rs 7.10 lakh cash stolen from the temple, which is located in Bhiwandi taluka, around 75 km away from Mumbai.

A gang of about half a dozen dacoits, armed with swords, had allegedly looted Rs 7 lakh cash from the temple in the wee hours of May 10 by tying up the only security guard.

Thane Superintendent of Police Shivaji Rathod told reporters that the accused were arrested from the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and from villages in Jawhar and Shahapur talukas.

He said the accused conducted recce of the entire Ganeshpuri locality during recently-concluded religious fair before committing the crime.

"Six teams were fanned out to trace criminals involved in the case," said the officer.

According to sources in local police, more than 50 personnel camped in forest areas for days to trace the accused as they hailed from interior villages.

The arrested men are identified as Govind Gimbal, 35, Vineet Surji Chimda, 19, Bharat Wagh, 22, Jagdish Navtare, 26 and his brother Pravin Navtare, 22, the SP said, adding that Gimbal and absconding accused Ramesh Gadge are the masterminds of the crime.

The investigating team will be rewarded for their work, the SP added.