Temple donation box, visitors looted

At least five masked persons caught the visitors from Semiliguda in Koraput district to Mahuri Kalua temple, a shakti shrine on the outskirts here, and looted their ornaments, Rs 30,000 in cash, mobile sets and a car on Saturday night, the sources said.

Two persons sustained minor injuries in the attack.

They then broke open the temple "hundi" (donation box) to collect the gold and silver ornaments before fleeing. There was no power supply in the area.

About 30 persons including women and children from Semiluguda had come to the shrine for a thread ceremony yesterday. The miscreants had even taken the vehicle in which they came from Semiliguda, police said.

After the ceremony was over, they were taking rest inside two guest houses of the temple when the dacoits strike.

Sub-divisional police officer, Chikiti, BN Dehuri said police had intensified patrolling in the area to nab the dacoits and nearby police stations had been alerted.