Pune: In a swift and dramatic operation, the Supé police apprehended a gang responsible for a series of thefts targeting temples in the Pune and Satara districts.

The gang, which included a minor, was arrested following a high-speed chase akin to scenes from a thriller movie. The stolen items recovered included a 107-year-old Paneshwar idol made of metal, a goddess mask, 15 temple bells, crowns, traditional lamps, and other sacred metal artifacts.

Additional Superintendent of Police Ganesh Biradar, while speaking to the press at Supé, revealed that the police had been investigating these thefts as they were deeply tied to the religious sentiments of the local community. "The investigation was a priority, given the emotional and cultural significance of the thefts from temples," said Biradar.

The police were conducting a night patrol when they spotted a suspicious Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 car parked in the Dandwadi area. When the police approached, the car sped off in the direction of Supé, leading to a high-speed pursuit.

Simultaneously, two individuals attempted to flee from a nearby temple under the cover of darkness but were eventually apprehended by the police team.

The arrested individuals were identified as Omkar Shashikant Salunkhe from Satara, Tushar Anil Pawar, and Saurabh Dattatray Patne, along with a minor accomplice.

The gang was involved in multiple temple thefts across the region, and cases have been registered against them in several police stations, including Supé, Bhor, Velha, Satara, Vathar, and Hadapsar.

The police also suspect that the gang has been involved in similar thefts in other areas, including Wai, Rajgad, Lonand, and Jejuri.

The operation was executed under the guidance of senior officers, including Police Superintendent Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent Ganesh Biradar, and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sudarshan Rathod. Assistant Police Inspector Manojkumar Navsare, Sub-Inspector Jinesh Koli, and their team led the successful operation.