Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Jul 1: A few thieves, who sneaked into the famous Goddess Annapoorneshwari temple of Kodyadka near here late night on Monday June 29, took away various articles worth about a lac of rupees. They have stolen silver armours provided to the idols of Lord Anjaneya and Ganapati, cash amounting to around Rs 5,000 from the donation box placed in the sanctum sanctorum, five glasses from the room of the priest and five silver plates used for offering the customary offering, 'Naivedya' to the Goddess.

The thieves went up the northern wall of the temple on the rear side by using a ladder. They then got in by fastening a rope to the pillar at the first floor. Even though they could break open several locks of the shrines of Ganapati, Anjaneya etc besides the bolt of the main door of the sanctorum sanctorum, they failed to break the inner door of the sanctorum. Reportedly, the siren of the temple was malfunctioning since the last some days.

Temple priest Dattatreya Bhat, who arrived at the temple on Tuesday morning, saw handbags, hacksaw blade, cutting blades etc besides a heap of locks left behind by the thieves.

Moodbidri policemen have registered a case. Deputy superintendent of police Suresh Naidu, circle police inspector Shivaprakash Naik, sub inspector Bharati and finger print experts visited the spot.