Daijiworld Media Network-Kundapur (RJP)

Kundapur, Jun 22: Unidentified thieves made unsuccessful attempt on Tuesday to steal from St Antony Church at Kandlur near here. The incident was discovered on Wednesday June 22 morning. The thieves had broken the lock on the left door of the church.

The church which was a sub-station of Basrur parish was made independent church on June 10 and Fr Victor D’Souza was sent as parish priest. From then morning Masses were offered every day. When the regulars came for the Mass on Wednesday, they found that one door of the church was open. Later it was discovered that the thieves had searched for valuables in vain. The collection from the alm box was collected by the management recently and hence there was no much money in it. It is seen that the thieves have thrown the things on the floor.

On June 5 night, some miscreants had vandalised the statue of St Antony at the same church. The incident had come to light on June 6, when some people came to the church for morning prayers.

Udupi district superintendent of police (SP) Annamalai, DySP Manjunath Shetty and other police personnel had visited Kandlur then and had taken up investigations. This theft incident has taken place before the miscreants could be apprehended.

It is yet to be known whether it was a theft attempt or an act committed with the intention of disrupting religious harmony.

Sub-inspector Nasir Hussein and other police personnel from Kundapur visited the spot with canine squad and finger print experts. A complaint has been lodged regarding the incident.