Keshav.Naik@timesgroup.com

MAPUSA: A rise in the number of temple thefts—four in the last two months in North Goa—has left the locals’ faith in the police force shattered. Thieves targeting temples have hurt religious sentiments by not respecting the sanctity of the place, said locals.

The most recent case was on February 2, where Bodgeshwar Temple in Mapusa town was burgled. Unknown persons decamped with cash amounting to 1.25 lakh. This case shocked all the residents of Bardez taluka, who consider Lord Bodgeshwar as their guardian.

What surprised the locals more, was that the thieves plotted the theft in spite of a private security guard being stationed at the temple and police patrolling the roads on either side of the temple. Locals said that people usually also sleep outside the temple and stray dogs around the area are aplenty. The temple is also under CCTV surveillance. Despite all this, the thieves managed to make a getaway and the police have still not made any arrest, they added.

On January 28, thieves targeted Shree Devi Bhumika Panachayatan Devasthan at Gaumwadi in Anjuna by breaking the latch of the right door and stole the deity’s gold ornaments worth over 1 lakh.

On January 15, two cases of theft were reported in two different temples in Bardez one day. Unknown accused decamped with valuables worth over 1 lakh in both the cases. The thefts cases were reported at Shree Ganapati Temple at Madel in Tivim and Shree Vans Temple in Saterinagar in Camurlim. “Police should solve these cases and arrest the accused, to set an example to others who want to attempt such acts,” said a Mapusa resident. Locals unanimously suggested that police patrolling should be intensified, especially during the night, as a step in the right direction.

