Shillong, May 10: Unidentified miscreants allegedly vandalised a Hanuman Mandir in the Garikhana area of Shillong and fled with idols, silver ornaments and cash after reportedly disabling CCTV cameras, police said on Sunday.
The incident is believed to have occurred around 1 am under the jurisdiction of Lumdiengjri Police Station. According to police, the accused allegedly gained entry into the temple by breaking open a side entrance before ransacking the premises.
Based on a complaint lodged by Ravi Sharma, the miscreants are suspected to have stolen idols of Lord Krishna and Radha, a small idol of Lord Hanuman, silver ornaments and several brass ritual items, including water pots, lamps and plates. An undisclosed amount of cash was also allegedly taken from the temple’s donation box. However, the main idol inside the shrine was left untouched.
Police said the intruders also allegedly set fire to CCTV cameras installed inside and outside the temple in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence before escaping from the scene.
Investigators have, however, managed to obtain footage from surveillance cameras installed in neighbouring houses, which reportedly captured the suspects while fleeing the locality. The footage has been handed over to the police to aid the investigation.
The incident has sparked concern among residents of Garikhana and nearby Jhalupara over security arrangements and the effectiveness of night patrolling in the area. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter.
