Burglars ransack temple at Quittol

HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, DEC 26
In a major Temple burglary, miscreants looted the Shree Shantadurga Quittolkarin Temple at Quittol village in Quepem taluka Saturday night, decamping with silver and gold ornaments, besides cash worth lakh of rupees.
While the Cuncolim police is assessing the total loss of property, the management of the Temple Committee told newsmen that the value of the silver and gold ornaments could go up to over Rs 25 lakh.
The incident occurred Saturday night when the miscreants effected entry into the temple located at an isolated place, nearly 1.5 km away from the main Fatorpa-Cananguinim road. The miscreants are
believed to have damaged the window panes and opened the latch before breaking open the iron grills with the help of a crow bar.
President of the Temple Committee, Yogesh Desai told newsmen that the miscreants laid their hands on a silver and gold plated idol, an 1,890 gold necklace, silver and gold plated sword and a shield, besides other items.
The incident came to light Sunday morning when a resident had gone to the temple to offer early morning pooja. After finding the temple door open, he immediately contacted the Temple Committee president Yogesh Desai, who intimated the incident to the Cuncolim police.
The burglars laid their hands on the cash of Rs 25,000 which was kept in the cupboard, and lifted away a silver plated idol, while attempts to break open the donation box proved futile.
Baffled over the temple burglary, the Cuncolim police requisitioned the services of a police dog and finger print experts, but in vain. The finger print expert is believed to have lifted two finger prints and the same is being verified.
District Collector, South G P Naik, District Police chief Allan de Sa, DySP Umesh Gaonkar and other senior police officers rushed to the spot to supervise investigations.
The Superintendent of Police, South told Herald Sunday evening that the police are working on a clue collected during investigation of the burglary. “DySP Umesh Gaonkar and PI Tushar Vernekar are working on the clue which may help to achieve a breakthrough”, he said.
Fatorda BJP MLA Damu Naik and other party leaders also visited the spot to take stock of the situation.
An IRB platoon, besides police drawn from other police stations were deployed in a massive combing operation to lay their hands on the burglars.
The Cuncolim police are investigating.