Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bentwal, Jan 8: In a concerted operation, the people of the surrounding villages on Tuesday apprehended a thief who allegedly stole a golden chain, silver crown, waist belt, silver eyes of the deity, donation box etc., from Mankude Lord Maha Vishnumurthy temple of Kolnad village near Vittal on Monday night.

The devotees came to know of the theft on the morning of Tuesday January 6. They found that the thieves had cut open the iron rod of the front door before making their way into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple by breaking its door. The people immediately started search operations in a radius of about five kilometres and found Dinesh, son of Nagesh Poojary who was hiding in the forests, who they felt, was involved with the theft.

The police suspect that Dinesh alongwith his accomplice Basheer, committed the theft. They are on the look out for Basheer now. The policemen revealed that Dinesh is a habitual idol thief and that he alongwith Basheer were released a week back after being in jail for idol theft.