Bhubaneswar: Unknown goons broke into the Shankarachya Swami Nishalananda Saraswati mutt in Puri and emptied the hundi (donation box) at the Maa Bimla Temple on the premises.

Mutt spokesperson Manoj Rath said: "We came to know about it when priests found the hundi missing. It was found abandoned at the of the temple with its lock opened."

"We have lodged an FIR."

Residents rushed to the spot as soon as news spread. "We have seen a rise in crime in Puri over two years. Thefts and murders have gone up," said Pradeep Dash, a resident.

Other residents too wondered how the goons could enter the heavily guarded mutt. "The police should rise to the occasion and arrest those involved. This is attached to our sentiments," said a servitor of the Shree Jagannath Temple.

Others argued that the cops should increase vigil ahead of rath yatra next month.

Puri City deputy superintndent of police Prashant Patnaik said: "We have started conducting raids in different places and hope to crack the case shortly."

Sources said the police suspect that drug addicts might be involved in the loot. "We suspect local residents to be behind the crime," said a cop.