Kerala police bust granite theft racket targeting cemetery graves

Law enforcement in Pathanamthitta district has cracked down on an organized theft ring targeting cemetery granite installations in the Mallappalli locality. Three individuals, including a shop owner, have been taken into custody following the investigation into the grave desecrations.

Police allege the accused would install granite slabs on graves before subsequently stealing them and selling the materials to dealers in the region. The scheme reportedly exploited the trust of grieving families and generated illicit profits through the resale of stolen marble and granite materials.

Authorities recovered stolen granite slabs during raids connected to the investigation. Police said the shop owner accused of purchasing and reselling the stolen materials played a key role in facilitating the racket.

The arrests mark an escalation in enforcement against organized theft targeting religious and burial sites across Kerala. Officials have indicated that further investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the operation and whether additional individuals were involved in the scheme.