Sacred Silver Stolen in Mangaluru Burglary Ahead of Key Festival
In a distressing incident that has rattled the local community, a burglary was reported at the Jogi Mutt Renovation and Management Committee office, situated within the sacred premises of the Kadri Jogi Mutt in Mangaluru. Miscreants allegedly forced open the office door and an almirah, making off with valuable silver ornaments belonging to deities, which were stored in preparation for an upcoming religious festival, along with a significant amount of cash.
Details of the Theft and Festival Preparations
The complainant, Harinath M, who serves as the president of the Jogi Mutt Renovation and Management Committee, provided a detailed account of the events. He stated that the silver ornaments had been brought to the committee office approximately a week prior to the incident. This was done in view of the Dhoomavati Nemotsava, a significant festival scheduled to be held in the second week of February, highlighting the timing's sensitive nature.
On January 26, around 2 pm, Harinath M and Gopinath Jogi securely locked the committee office before departing. The following day, at about 11 am, Dinesh Jogi visited the office and was met with a disturbing sight: the front door had been broken, and the lock was lying on the ground, indicating a forced entry.
Discovery and Investigation
Upon being alerted, Harinath M rushed to the spot and confirmed that the door had been forcibly opened. He immediately informed other office bearers of the committee, and in their presence, entered the office to assess the damage. Inside, they discovered that the almirah used to store the precious ornaments had also been forcibly opened.
Upon verification, it was found that several items were missing:
- Silver ornamental pieces belonging to Dhoomavati Daiva, a revered deity.
- A small utensil intended for sandalwood, used in rituals.
- Silver ornaments of Lord Ganapati, another important deity in the festival preparations.
The stolen items included silver ornaments with a total weight of 511 grams, valued at approximately Rs 90,000. Additionally, cash amounting to Rs 40,000 was taken by the miscreants, bringing the total estimated loss to around Rs 1,30,000.
Police Response and Community Impact
The Mangaluru East police have registered a case in connection with the burglary and are actively investigating the matter. This incident has not only caused financial loss but has also deeply affected the religious sentiments of the local community, especially with the festival approaching. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to help solve the case and recover the stolen sacred items.
