Jewelry worth over 40 lakh stolen from temple in Bhatkal, priest missing
Bhatkal: Bhatkal’s Durgaparameshwari Temple on Monday reported that its jewelry worth over 40 lakh rupees which were donated to the ‘Devi’ (Goddess) of the temple by the people, were stolen from the temple premises.
The temple authorities further added that a priest who was working at the temple was also missing ever since the incident came to light.
The temple administration in the police complaint identified the missing priest as Sathish Bhat, a resident of Yellapur. In the complaint, it is added that the incident came to the light when the Chief priest of the temple opened the jewelry box on the occasion of Navratri, to put the jewelry on the goddess.
The temple authorities reportedly tried contacting Sathish over the phone as he had the keys to jewelry locker. Unable to contact him over the phone, the administration decided to break open the locker on Saturday, as it was the ritual of the temple to put jewelry on the Goddess. It was then, the incident came to the light.
Sathish was working at the temple for the last one year but had not reported to the duty for over a month now. The authorities further added that they last spoke to Sathish on phone on Friday, but were unable to contact him on Saturday.
A case in this regard has been registered at Bhatkal Rural Police Station and investigations are underway. A special team has also been formed by Yellapur Police to trace Sathish Bhat.
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.
Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.
Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”
Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
