Pathanamthitta , A granite slab has been stolen from a tomb at a church cemetery in the Mallappally area here, the third such theft reported in the locality since July, officials said on Sunday.
The latest theft comes as police investigate two similar incidents reported in July, when granite slabs were stolen from tombs at Mar Thomas Church in Vengalassery and Zion Mar Thoma Church cemetery in Mankuzhippadi, both within the Keezhvaipur police station limits, officials said. They subsequently alerted the Keezhvaipur police. Police suspect that the three incidents are interconnected and are looking into the possible involvement of the same person or group. Police will register a case after receiving a complaint from the family members of the deceased whose tomb was targeted.
The latest incident took place at St Thomas Mar Thoma Church in Anicadu near Mallappally, where a black granite slab measuring six feet long and three feet wide was removed from the tomb of Annamma Kurien, police said. The modus operandi in all three cases appears to be similar, with the accused allegedly targeting church cemeteries without CCTV cameras, police said. Police will examine fingerprint samples collected from the latest crime scene to determine whether they can help establish a link with the earlier cases, officials said.
The theft came to light on Sunday morning when people reached the cemetery for prayers and noticed that the slab was missing.
