A police sniffer dog and Forensic team requisitioned by the Police to assist in the investigations.
Sao Jose de Areal villagers woke up on Friday morning to hear the news that the statue of St Joseph has gone missing from a Cross located near the Areal Panchayat ghar.
Locals demanded immediate revival of the CCTV Surveillance cameras installed at the Panchayat ghar.
The incident came to light on Friday morning when a group of Panchayat members including deputy Sarpanch Piedade Cardozo had come to the Panchayat ghar for some programme when they noticed the statue missing from the site.
After informing other members, they informed the Maina Curtorim police about the incident as they suspected foul play.
The police sniffer dog and a Forensic team were requisitioned by the Police to assist in the investigations.
Areal villager and activist Freddy Travasso told the media that though the Panchayat had installed CCTV cameras at the Panchayat ghar a couple of years ago under CSR, the cameras have turned defunct for want of maintenance. “The culprits would have been identified and nabbed by the police if the camera were in working condition”, he said, while demanding that the panchayat revive the CCTV surveillance cameras on priority.
