Minors steal bag with cash,gold at nuptials
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, DEC 28
In a daring theft that occurred in the Holy Spirit Church during a nuptial ceremony, a group of migrant minors fled away with a bag containing gold ornaments, cash of Rs 70,000, a digital camera and two mobiles on Tuesday evening.
The value of the stolen gold ornaments is estimated to be between Rs 4 to 7 lakhs.
The incident occurred when Maxie Fernandes, a relative of the bridegroom, had gone for the communion by leaving behind the bag containing the cash and gold ornaments on the bench.
Suddenly, the three minors – who were suspiciously moving in the church – during the nuptials, laid their hands on the bag. While a minor boy made good his escape in a bus with the booty, the other two minor girls were caught by the people around, before the Margao police were intimated of the incident.
One of the relatives of the bridegroom informed that the people had spotted the minors moving suspiciously in the church. When questioned, they are believed to have said they have come to the church for prayers. “Their movement in the church were suspected by some of us. But, we could not tell them to go out of the church”, remarked one relative.
Police Sub Inspector Mohan Gawde, who is investigating the case, said the police took the two minor girls to the old station road and other parts of the city in search of their mother. “During interrogations, the duo have stated they have come from Madhya Pradesh with their mother to sell clothes in the city. We are trying to find out the whereabouts of their mother”, he said.
Replying to a question on the exact value of the stolen gold ornaments, Gawde said he is awaiting for a formal complaint from the party to initiate further investigations into the case.
