Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Sep 8: On the night of Saturday September 6, thieves gained entry into Goddess Sri Durgaparameshwari temple at Kambaru in Kudalu Merkala near Kumble in the taluk and took away the 'Bali Murty (idol)' of the Goddess as well as silver aureole, totally valued at around Rs 2.5 lac.

The thieves apparently entered the temple after working out a gap in the roof of the temple. They forcibly yanked out the door of the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine that was locked with the help of iron rods, before taking out the Balimurty made of Panchaloha (alloy of five metals) and silver aureole. They also broke open the lock of the temple office and sifted through the contents of the cupboard kept inside. They also broke open the donation boxes inside the temple and took away the contents. They then made good their escape by opening the bolt of the door located to the north side of the temple.

The theft came to light after temple priest, Balakrishna Adiga, visited the temple on Sunday September 7 morning. District Superintendent of Police, Johnson Jose, police circle inspector, Suresh Babu and Kumble police sub-inspector John, visited the spot. The sniffer dog summoned from Kasargod led the police to a deserted house in the vicinity of the temple. The thieves were found to have left behind the seat of the idol located at the altar. Iron rods and some other equipments were found abandoned inside the shrine by the thieves. The policemen have registered a case and set the process of investigation rolling.

The lock of the temple door was found to have been broken open a week back. The thieves perhaps were helped by the fact that very few houses are located in the area and the region received intermittent rains at night.