Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jun 17: Silver items worth about Rs 4.5 lac, stolen from Lord Laxmi Venkataramana Temple in Uppinangady in the taluk in the wee hours of June 5 this year were found from a spot where the thief had hidden them. The thief, who has taken away about Rs 1 lac in cash found from donation boxes kept inside the temple and silver items worth about Rs 1 lac with him, had hidden the remaining valuables out of the booty beneath burrows dug to allow water to drain in a plantation near Nattibail near Uppinangady.

On Tuesday June 16, coolies engaged for agricultural work in the plantation of Krishna Nayak Nattibail, found a plastic bag beneath a burrow dug for allowing water to flow freely. The bag contained a number of silver valuables which were stolen from the above temple. With this, out of about Rs 6.5 lac items including Rs 1 lac in cash stolen from the temple, assets worth Rs 4.5 lac stand recovered.

After the matter was conveyed to Uppinangady police station, rural police circle inspector, Anil Kulkarni, Uppinangady assistant sub-inspector, Saneev Rai, and others reached the spot and verified the find. Priest and members of the temple managing committee then came there and identified the stolen items, after which their value was apprised. Although sniffer dogs and finger print experts were summoned to the spot, they failed to make any headway, as the bag and silver items had become wet because of rain.

It is thought that the thief would have buried the valuables after taking away money and silver items for immediate requirement, for being used later. Some feel that the thief would have dithered from selling the silver items on a large scale for fear of getting caught.

It may be recalled that a mass prayer was performed at the temple on June 13 about the theft, which occurred in spite of security systems put in place. The devotees now feel that their prayers have been partly answered. They now believe that this is an indication that remaining assets will also be found soon. Although the CCTV camera inside the temple has captured the image of the thief, the policemen have not been able to establish his identity so far.

By the side of the spot from where the silver items were found, a outpatient chit issued by Uppinangady primary health centre was found. Although it is believed that this chit belongs to the thief, as the paper has become wet, words written therein were not clearly visible. On the basis of the fact that this piece of paper contained information that the patient in question was dispensed with medicine on June 3, the policemen are trying to match details with the register maintained at the primary health centre.

It is gathered that under the directions of local deputy superintendent of police, Bhaskar Rai N G, a police team had been deputed to several places in Kerala including Kannur recently for investigating this case. Although this team visited various police stations and tried to match the picture of the thief with those already in police records there, they did not taste success, it is gathered.