PANAJI: Residents of New Vaddem, Vasco, woke up to a shock this morning after discovering that St Anthony’s Chapel had been vandalised in the early hours. The chapel’s donation box was broken, and the statue of St Anthony was damaged.
CCTV footage from the site shows a middle-aged man wandering near the chapel around 1.15 am, wearing only women’s underwear. Authorities suspect he broke open the donation box, stole the cash, and damaged the statue.
The unusual and sacrilegious act has left the local community outraged. Vasco police have registered a case, collected the CCTV footage, and are working to identify and trace the suspect.
Local ward councillor Sudesh Bhosle, who resides in the area, said, “Some residents initially thought the man might be mentally unstable and did not anticipate he would cause damage. People realised only in the morning that the statue had been vandalised and the donation box broken with money taken. We immediately informed the police, and they have begun their investigation.”
Bhosle urged the community to remain calm and maintain harmony. “The chapel regularly hosts novenas and attracts daily devotees. This act should not disturb communal harmony. We request the police to increase night patrolling and vigilance in the area,” he added.
