Inter-state theft gang apprehended at Attukal Pongala; four Tamil women in custody

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thampanoor police have dismantled an inter-state theft ring following the arrest of four women who allegedly targeted devotees during the Attukal Pongala festival. The suspects, identified as Meena (55), Rosli (40), Shanthi (37), and Meenakshi (49), are all reportedly natives of Tamil Nadu.

The arrests took place near the KSRTC bus stand after a member of the group was caught in the act of attempting to snatch a gold necklace from a woman waiting in a queue for refreshments. While the initial apprehension involved a single individual, a subsequent sweep of the area by police officers revealed that the women were operating as a coordinated unit.

According to investigators, the group traveled to Thiruvananthapuram under the guise of festival pilgrims to exploit the heavy crowds. Police officials noted that the suspects provided conflicting and inconsistent information during preliminary interrogation.

The police stated that the exact details regarding their base of operations in Tamil Nadu will only be verified through further intensive questioning. All four women were produced before the court and have been remanded to judicial custody.