Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (MS)

Bantwal, Dec 27: Thieves struck three temples in the wee hours of Thursday, December 26 and took away the donation boxes. The temples, where the thieves struck are Sangabettu Sri Veerabhadra Mahamayi temple, Sri Mahamayi temple, which is within the campus of the former temple and Sri Narayana Guru Mandira of Rayi in the taluk.

The act of thieves is recorded on the CCTV camera of Sri Veerabhadra Mahamayi temple which occurred around 2.30 am. The thieves tried to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple after breaking open the lock of the temple but were not able to enter inside and took away the donation box that was kept outside the sanctum sanctorum.

The gang repeated the same act at Sri Mahamayi temple, which is inside the same campus of Sri Veerabhadra Mahamayi temple and there too they tried to enter the sanctum sanctorum but failed in their attempt and made good with the donation box that was kept outside.

The theft came to light only when the temple priest came to the temple in the early morning. He informed the matter to trustee of the temple Chandrahasa immediately, who in turn informed the Bantwal police. Bantwal circle inspector T D Nagaraj, Rural SI Prasanna and other personnel have visited the spot and are investigating.

In the third incident, the donation box of Sri Narayana Guru Mandira of Rayi in the taluk was stolen by the thieves in the wee hours of Thursday, December 26. The thieves entered the temple by breaking open the lock of main entrance and escaped with two donation boxes. The matter came to light when the temple priest came to offer pooja in the early morning. Bantwal rural police are investigating.

The police are suspecting that the gang of thieves is the same in both the incidents that took place at temples situated at Sangabettu and Rayi.