Mangalore: Thieves Empty Donation Boxes at Bolar Mariamma Temple

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 25: The thieves broke open the doors of Goddess Mariamma Mahishamardini Temple at Bolar in the city on the night of Tuesday August 24, and took away money collected in several donation boxes found in the temple.

The temple does not employ guards at night. This is the second theft in the temple during the last one year, and those who committed the earlier theft are yet to be traced. It is estimated that the thieves have gained access to money in excess of Rs 2 lac.

The donation boxes of the temple are opened twice during the year in the presence of trustees, once just before Dasara festival, and again after the conclusion of the Dasara, as devotees throng this temple in large numbers during the nine-day Dasara festival, and donate liberally either to fulfil their religious vows, or for the development and renovation of the temple.

The priest of the temple being run by a trust getting to know about the incident on his arrival for the puja in the morning of Wednesday August 25 reported the matter to the managing committee.

A complaint has been filed at the Pandeshwar police station in the city. Policemen and sniffer dogs surveyed the scene of the theft and tried to find clues about the theft. The thieves appear to be aware that the donation boxes have good collections, which are accumulated during the last about a year, about a month before being opened on the eve of Dasara. Investigations are on.