Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (MSP)

Bantwal, May 24: Idol thieves have once again targetted the historically famous Sri Chandranatha Swamy Basadi in Vittal, after a gap of about three years. Besides taking away the idols of goddesses Jwalamalini Devi and Padmavathi Devi being worshipped in the Jain Basadi, they have stolen 16 bronze idols and the golden Karimani necklace and golden bangles found on the idols. The estimated value of the stolen idols and gold ornaments is Rs 24,300.

The temple priest discovered the theft when he came to the Basadi in the wee hours on Friday May 23 to attend to his duties, and thereafter, filed a complaint with the Vittal police.

It may be recalled that the thieves had three years ago, gained entry into the same Basadi by removing the wooden planks of the upper storey of the Basadi. Their modus operandi has undergone a change this time, as they chose to break open the northern side wooden doors of the Basadi with the help of iron rods and axe. The thieves however, have not laid their hands on the donation box inside the Basadi.

They ransacked the steel almirah kept inside the Basadi. Two broken locks of the Basadi have been found outside it and the wooden handle of the axe was found in the dry well in the Basadi premises. The idols had been stolen even in the earlier incident, and new idols were installed.

The present theft has set in a sense of apprehension and fear in the minds of the local population. Vittal sub inspector of police Umesh Uppalige visited the spot and has initiated investigation into the theft. Asssistant police sub inspector Aithappa Moolya has undertaken the task of searching for the finger prints of the thieves that they might have left while fleeing.