Even graves aren't safe; Granite slabs stolen from tomb in cemetery

PATHANAMTHITTA: Another theft has been reported in the cemetery. The granite slab above the tomb at the Mar Thoma Church cemetery at Mallappally in Pathanamthitta was found stolen on Monday. The granite slab from the tomb of T M Thomas of Thaikkoottam was missing.

A similar theft happened at the Mar Thoma Church cemetery at Mankuzhipadin in Mallappally the other day. The slab covering the tomb of Thanikkal family where T S Varghese and Eliyamma Varghese were buried was stolen. The theft took place again today while the police had registered a case and were investigating.

A six-foot long and three-foot wide granite slab was stolen from the Mar Thoma church. The complaint states that the theft was reported when the family arrived for worship. The police have started an investigation. It is learnt that no clues have been found about the accused in both the cases.

It is suspected that thefts only occur in cemeteries where there are no CCTVs. Police say that one person cannot commit the theft alone. The heavy granite slabs cannot be transported without the help of vehicles and the police suspect that there are several people in the gang. Efforts have been made to collect CCTV footage of the vehicles that transported the slabs. The police have been given strict instructions to arrest the thieves as soon as possible.