PERNEM: A large group of angry residents of Mandrem marched to the police station on Friday night after a person arrested and released on bail in connection with a theft at the Hanuman temple in Madhalamaj-Mandrem allegedly threatened witnesses and assaulted one of them.
The villagers, along with temple officials, later filed a complaint against Vinod Patekar in this regard at the Mandrem police station.
Speaking to media persons outside the Mandrem police station, the temple president Ranganath Kalshawkar, said that a few months ago, Patekar had been arrested on charges of stealing money from the temple.
Following his release on bail, Kalshawkar said Patekar has been threatening witnesses and had even assaulted one of them at a tavern.
Stating that such a person is a threat to the village, Kalshawkar said that Patekar should not be allowed to enter the village.
Mandrem police later detained Patekar, who has had a number of cases registered against him in Mandrem, Pernem and Bicholim police stations.
