Four Temples Looted, Desecrated In Nellore
At Mathamma temple, the culprits stole seven gold Mangalsutras, a nose ring and the hundi. At Bhadrakali temple, four big and three small gold Mangalsutras were stolen along with three gold beads (gundlu), and a pearl item.
Nellore: Unidentified persons looted and desecrated four temples in Nellore's Podalakur mandal on Thursday morning, following which police officials implemented additional security steps to protect other temples in the region.
At Mathamma temple, the culprits stole seven gold Mangalsutras, a nose ring and the hundi. At Bhadrakali temple, four big and three small gold Mangalsutras were stolen along with three gold beads (gundlu), and a pearl item.
In Ramalayam and Anjaneya Swamy temples, the thieves broke open the hundis and stole cash. Only coins were left lying on the floor. One of the discarded hundies was found smashed in a pond nearby. The targeted looting of temples has left the villagers distressed.
The theft of sacred ornaments — particularly Mangalsutras which are traditionally tied to the deities as a symbol of divinity and protection — has deeply hurt local religious sentiments.
Villagers tied make-shift Mangalsutras made from turmeric sticks to the deities to restore sanctity.
