the goan I network
MARGAO
People of Benaulim woke up to hear the news of a theft at the Todppa Khuris located along the Benaulim-Varca road, but later heaved a sigh of relief after realisation dawned that the statue of Our Lady and the cross were left untouched by the miscreants.
The burglars managed to lay their hands only on coins amounting to Rs 56 as a member of the committee had in the previous night taken possession of the currency notes from the donation box.
The incident came to light early Monday morning when a candle seller noticed the lock on the front grill broke-open. Inquiries later revealed that the burglars had opened the donation box and effected their entry inside through the rear side after cutting open the grills.
No sooner the candle seller intimated the incident to the committee member Caetano Francisco Fernandes, he immediately informed the Colva police about the burglary at the shrine. Caetano told The Goan that he had removed the money from the donation box at around 9.30 pm, leaving the coins in the box.
"While I was about to return home after closing the shrine, a car driver came near and sought permission to park the vehicle near the shrine. I was later told that the car was later parked at the nearby police station, but some passerby had spotted a male and female behind the shrine later in the night," he said. "The miscreant had cut open the lock on the front side of the grilled premises. Since he could not break open the second lock, he made his way inside by cutting open the rear grill," he said.
Former MLA Caitu Silva, who came to the spot, said the incident is the handiwork of burglars given that people come in large numbers to worship at the shine in view of the novenas of Our Lady of Vailankanni," Caitu said, adding that there was no attempt to vandalise or desecrate the shrine.
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, who is in Vailankanni, called up to condemn the incident, while demanding that the police intensify night patrolling and at the same time nab the miscreants involved in the incident.
The Colva police called in the finger print experts and a sniffer dog to obtain clues and help the ongoing investigations.
