Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 17: In continuance of a series of thefts that are taking place in the twin-districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada of late, some thieves gained entry into the ancient Inna Muddanu Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple near Padubidri, and decamped with booty worth two lac rupees on Wednesday February 16 night.

The theft came to light when the priest of the temple came to offer the morning puja today. The thieves are found to have broken the locks of the front main door of the temple and the sanctoum sanctorum. A golden mask provided to the face of the deity’s idol, silver replica of the hood of the serpent god, silver aureole, and silver covering of the conch were found to have gone missing. The thieves, before running away, have abandoned the wooden support of the aureole in the temple compound. The donation boxes of the temple however, were left untouched.

Although the watchman of the temple was sleeping in a part of the temple, it is said, he did not get to know about the theft. Even the people living in the neighbourhood were not alerted by any sound.

District superintendent of police,  Pravin Madhukar Pawar, deputy superintendent of police, Jayant Shetty, circle inspector, Selvaraj, and Padubidri station house officer, Mahadeva Setty, visited the spot. Sniffer dogs and finger print experts were also pressed into service. Investigation has been taken up.