Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Apr 4: Unknown thieves, who gained entry into Mookambika Kripa Sri Rama Bhajana Mandir at Brahmarakootlu in the taluk by breaking open the rear door, stole silver ornaments worth about a lac of rupees. In this connection, the police took into custody a local youth on the basis of suspicion, and subjected him to intensive questioning.

A silver aureole that was fitted behind the idol of the Goddess, a silver-covered Panchaloha idol of the Goddess, and some other items were stolen, president of the Mandali, Shashidhar, said in his complaint to the crime branch of the town police station here. Shashidhar explained that he noticed the theft when he came to the Mandir in the morning to pray to the Goddess.

In-charge police sub-inspector, Mahesh Prasad, visited the spot. Finger print experts and sniffer dogs were summoned. As the sniffer dog directly went and stood in front of the house of a local, the police took a youth from that house for questioning. In the evening, deputy superintendent of police, Puttur, Sadanand Varnekar, visited the venue and guided the investigations.

After rumours about the police deciding to release the youth in question without properly interrogating him spread, hundreds of people from Brahmarakootlu and surrounding places mobbed the town police stations on Wednesday evening. After Varnekar, who happened to be there then, received petition from the protesters, promised of speedy investigation and arresting of the culprit, the people dispersed. The protesters, led by Mandali president, Shashidhar, BJP leader, Ramdas, and others, also warned the police that they will resume tougher measures of protest, if there is negligence or lethargy in the investigation.