Tipu mosque theft: Police find initial leads

Express news service Posted: Apr 09, 2008 at 0110 hrs
Kolkata, April 8 A day after 14 antique brass covers of tombs and minarets, worth several crores of rupees, were found stolen from the Tipu Shahi mosque, police detectives investigating the case claimed to have made inroads based on the interrogations of the three persons arrested in this connection on Monday.

Each brass covers is said to weigh at least 5.5 kg.

Jawed Shamim, DC (Detective Department) said, they have identified the shop where miscreants sold the covers.

“However, the shop was found locked and the owner is not traceable. Another thing that has emerged is that the brass covers were stolen over a protracted period of time, and not in the night,” said Shamim, who refused to disclose the names of the shop or the persons arrested.

On Monday, senior police and administration officials stepped in to reassure the mosque authorities of all possible help and action.

The Tipu Shahi mosque is situated at the crossing of Prince Anwar Shah Road and Deshapran Sashmal Road, and was constructed by Tipu Sultan’s youngest son in 1832.