Yahya Hallare

Daijiworld Media Network - Bhatkal (MS)

Bhatkal, Oct 23: Police are successful in knowing the whereabouts of the suspected accused in the case of stealing of lacs of worth of gold from the Sri Durgaparameshwari temple of Mundalli in the taluk. The suspect happens to be the priest of the same temple.

From October 17, the first day of the Navaratri festival itself the priest of the temple, who is a native of Yellapur, went missing. Police have made all preparations to interrogate the priest. According to sources, it is possible that he will be arrested on Friday, October 23, after the information gets confirmed.

According to the information available, the police team had left to Mysuru as they were told by sources that the priest has left Yellapur due to fear of police. However, the priest gave a slip to the police there also. However, they were able to trace his whereabouts on Thursday, October 22. He is seen in one of the villages between Bengaluru and Mysuru and police have tracked his movement. According to sources, the golden ornaments of the temple are with the accused priest. Only after the interrogation, more details will emerge.

The accused priest had joined the renowned Sri Durgaparameshwari temple of Mundalli a year ago. However, he had not taken active part in the Pooja rituals of the temple since a month. In the midst of this, the temple was being decorated for Navaratri festival. On Saturday, October 17, golden ornaments worth Rs 40 lac that were used to decorate the Goddess were missing from the sanctum sanctorum. The suspected priest of Yellapur origin was in touch with the chief priest of the temple till Friday, October 16 but went missing from October 17 and was not available for contact to anyone. This is why the needle of suspicion fell over him.