Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 10: Residents of New Vaddem, Vasco, were stunned on Tuesday morning when they discovered that St Anthony’s Chapel had been vandalised overnight. The chapel’s donation box was found smashed open, and the statue of St Anthony had been damaged.

CCTV footage captured around 1.15 a.m. shows a middle-aged man loitering outside the chapel wearing only women’s undergarments. Police believe he broke into the premises, stole money from the donation box, and damaged the statue before fleeing.

The incident has stirred anger and distress among locals. Vasco police have registered a case, secured the CCTV footage, and begun efforts to track down the accused.

Local ward councillor Sudesh Bhosle, who lives nearby, said some residents had noticed the man earlier but assumed he might be mentally unwell and did not foresee any threat. “Only in the morning did people realise that the statue had been defaced and the donation box broken into. We immediately informed the police, and they have started their investigation,” he said.

Bhosle appealed for calm and urged residents not to let the incident upset communal peace. “The chapel holds regular novenas and sees many daily visitors. We want the police to step up night patrolling and enhance vigilance so such incidents don’t recur,” he added.