Uppunda: Gold ornaments worth lakhs of rupees have been stolen from Sri Laxmi Venkataramana temple belonging to Gouda Saraswath community. This theft came to light on Friday morning.

The thieves gained access to the temple which is located on the side of NH66 at Uppanda, through the compound wall and reached the sanctum sanctorum by breaking open the outer door as well as the inner door. They made off with the idol of god which had a silver cover, two prabhavalis, silver accessories used in the pooja and other golden ornaments belonging to the temple.

The following morning when the priest arrived to conduct the pooja, saw the theft and informed the concerned immediately.

Some local youths were returning after watching Yakshagana at around 3am in the morning saw a person walking through the narrow walkway of Tippanadi paddy field adjacent to Daivada Mane (temple of deities) near Marlammabettu, Bijoor. When the youths changed course and started walking towards the person, the person started to run and in the melee dropped the bag he was carrying and made off into the early morning darkness.

Out of fear and since it was dark, the locals did not make any attempt to pursue the person and by the time the locals equipped themselves with torchlight, the person had long made his escape. Meahwhile, they also observed a motorcycle that sped off towards Murgolihaklu via Bijoor school road.

The locals immediately informed the police who arrived and opened the bag dropped by the fleeing thief. The bag revealed a seat of the idol, an idol of god made of sandalwood without the silver cover, one silver Prabhavali and other silver accessories.

The dog squad and fingerprint experts visited the crime location. The fingerprint experts have gathered valuable evidence relating to the crime. The dogs of the dog squad followed the scent from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple up to Murgolihaklu railway gate via Bijoor Charakoodlu road and school road which is at an approximate distance of a kilometer.

programmes of gold and 28 kg of silver worth more than Rs 13 lakhs, are yet to be traced and recovered.

The temple was visited by Kumara Chandra, additional SP, Paramesha Gunaga, circle inspector, Byndoor, Thimmesha B N, station officer of Byndoor police station. Investigation is on to nab the thieves.

A case has been registered at Byndoor police station.