Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (RJP)
Kundapur, Aug 2: Thieves broke into Shree Tirumala Venkataramana temple in Vandse near here and decamped with a silver mask, cash from the alms box as well as some other items.
The theft was discovered on the morning of Sunday, August 2 when the priest came for the morning puja. The priest saw the main front door open with its lock broken.
He immediately informed the temple administration and the renovation committee. The temple which stands in the middle of the town had undergone renovation work recently.
The total value of the things and cash looted stands approximately at Rs 80,000. After breaking open the lock on the main door the thieves opened another five locks and stole the items which included a special umbrella used for the deity, flag, silver mask and cash from the alms box. The thieves have left the coins on the spot and have taken only currency notes. They have also touched the documents stored in the drawer of a table.
The silver plates fixed to the teak wood box with the silver nails were left out. It is suspected that they did not have time to take this. The plates were easy to remove. Cutting player and screw driver used for the theft were abandoned at the spot. The temple could not install CCTV cameras due to financial constraints. The items were donated to the temple by the devotees. Police patrol is observed in the area on the everyday basis but still the theft has taken place.
Fingerprint specialists and sniffer squad visited the crime scene. The sniffer dog moved in the direction of left side of the temple, it is claimed. DySP Manjunath Shetty, sub inspectors Jayanth and Sudarshan came to the place for enquiry. Kollur police have registered the case.
A theft also took place at the nearby Shree Bhadramahakali temple. It is suspected that it is handiwork of the same group. More devotees visit the temple and put alms on Saturdays. Hence the thieves must have taken this day to break into the temple.
CCTV camera footages are being procured from the town. Thefts of cows were also witnessed in the past week.