Cash, gold, silver ornaments stolen
PORVORIM, AUG 12
Gold and silver ornaments and cash, all worth Rs 1.17 lakh, were stolen from the Shantadurga Pilernakarin Devasthan at Betim on the intervening night of August 11 and 12.
According to Porvorim Police, burglars broke open the side door as well as the door of the ‘Garbhakud’ of the Shantadurga Pilernakarin Devasthan and decamped with cash, gold and silver ornaments of the deity, valued at Rs 1,17,500.
While Porvorim Police has put the value of gold and silver ornaments and cash at about Rs 1.17 lakh, temple committee members have claimed that based on the current market value of silver and gold ornaments, the loss could be anywhere between Rs 4.50 and Rs 5 lakh. The cash was around Rs 2,000.
Speaking to Herald, the temple President Sheetal Chodankar said Poojari Devendra Dessai had closed the temple at 9.30 pm on August 11.
“When he went to the temple on August 12 at about 5.30 am, he found the side door of the temple opened. He immediately called temple committee members, who in turn alerted Porvorim Police,” said Chodankar.
“However, police reported at the temple almost after 45 minutes and that too after ringing them thrice, even though the distance from the police station is barely 1 km,” claimed Chodankar.
“Police pressed the dog squad into service, but couldn’t provide any clue. Police also obtained finger sprints. We have lost faith in police now. We have therefore decided to install CCTV cameras in the temple and depute a watchman to safeguard the temple,” said Chodankar.
PANJIM REPORTER ADDS: Gold and silver ornaments worth more than two lakhs have been stolen from the temple of Sati Bhavani at Bhatlem in Panjim, between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
The theft was first detected by the head priest when he came to the temple to offer daily prayers early morning. A complaint of theft has been filed by Mahadev Araundkar at the Panjim town police station.
Speaking to Inspector Sandesh Chodankar said that the burglary occurred between Wednesday 9:15pm and Thursday 5:30 am, by breaking open the doors.
“The burglars broke open the main door of the temple and gate of the room leading to the deity. Apart from the jewelleries-one gold mangalsutra, pair of gold earning and nose stud on the Goddess, the accused burgled silver ‘Prabhana’ and two silver crowns, total amounting to Rs 2.33 lakhs,” he said.
Incidentally, a temple at Porvorim was also burgled of lakhs on Thursday morning. Respective police teams are studying the modus operandi of thefts in other temples, which can help trace the accused.
Smarting under the loss including thefts and desecrations at religious institutions, North Goa Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas in June 2010 had issued 15 security advisories to all temple committees. Besides, it is holding regular meetings.
Even as that, certain temples have not complied with advisories, which include deploying a security guard. The two temples, police sources informed did not adopt security measures.
Few of the total advisories, include installing Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMDs), parking of vehicles away from religious institutions, check suspicious vehicles, storing ornaments in bank lockers or heavy safe with very good lockers, illumination around the temple premise, maintain Q system of devotees, etc.
Temples were also directed to deploy security personnel at every religious institution, and if it is not possible due to financial or other crunches, to submit names of two volunteers whose names will be forwarded to the Government for formalities.
CALANGUTE CORRESPONDENT ADDS: Burglars robbed the Jambleshwar Devasthan at Ximer-Calangute and decamped with cash of Rs 1,000 in the wee hours of Thursday.
According to Calangute Police, in their attempt to open the Ghumti to lay their hands on the donated cash, the burglars broke the glass of the ghumti, which was later replaced by the Devasthan committee. Devasthan President Madhu Korgankar lodged a complaint with Calangute Police on Thursday.
Calangute Police pressed the sniffer dog and finger experts
