The flurry of temple thefts continued to haunt the city on Wednesday with two temple being burgled at around the same in different localities.
While unidentified persons entred a Durga Goddess temple in Amberpet and decamped with the idol’s ‘mangalsutra’ and earrings, thieves stole Rs 4,000 cash from a hundi in Hanuman temple at MRP office in Medchal.
“In the first incident, unidentified persons entered Durga mata’s temple in the wee hours of Wednesday at Golnaka by breaking open the main door.
The miscreants decamped with Mangalsutra and ear-rings of the idol, both made of gold, weighing three tola,” Amberpet inspector Akula Srinivas said.
When devotees visited the temple and noticed the door open, they informed the temple management, who in turn lodged a complaint.
Police registered cases of theft and trespass against the accused, and collected samples from iron grills that were removed by the thieves to enter the temple.
When news of the theft spread in the locality, locals squatted in front of the temple, demanding immediate arrest of the accused and increased security around the temple.
In the other incident, thieves broke open a hundi in the Hanuman temple located near MRP office in Medchal and stole Rs 4,000 cash.
Medchal inspector A Rami Reddy said that thieves broke open the hundi located in front of the temple and stole the cash in the early hours of Wednesday.
The management lodged a complaint with the police and a case of theft was registered.
One Held for Idol Desecration
The Dundigal police on Wednesday arrested a 41-year-old Nepali for damaging a temple in Dundigal a few days ago.
Dundigal inspector V Bhaskar said they arrested Sherbahadur Thapa, a Gurkha at Bowrampet in connection with the damage.
On November 18, the police had received a complaint from S Ravinder Reddy, an advocate and resident of Bowrampet that an idol of Ammavaru, that was installed by residents of the area, was set afire by unknown persons by pouring kerosene.
“During investigation, Thapa confessed to his offense.
The accused said that he had come to Bowrampet three months back and earns money by going around localities at night as watchman.
On November 17, he left his room at 8 pm and consumed liquor at a shop.
After having his dinner, he left for his rounds at midnight and moved in Bowrampet and Gandimaisamma till 3 am. He then started back for his room.
Near Bangaru Maisamma temple, he started shivering and to stay warm, he lit a fire behind the temple.