Siliguri, Jan. 14: Gold ornaments weighing over 100 gm, cash and several other articles were looted from the Mahamaya Kalibari temple at Deshbandhupara in a late-night theft yesterday.

The break in has shocked devotees since the stolen gold was offered to Goddess Kali as manat (an offering made to the deity against the fulfilment of a wish). Visitors came to the temple in droves today to enquire about the incident.

“The gold ornaments were kept in a locker inside a steel almirah at the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The stolen ornaments include a crown, necklaces, tikli and ornamental eyes and tongue for the goddess. A silver crown is missing. Some temple utensils and the pranami box have also been stolen,” said Nihalendu Lahiri, the president of the temple committee.

The theft has shocked Siliguri residents who attach great sentimental value to the temple. On auspicious days of the year, large crowds gather to pay obeisance at the Kali shrine.

Police are now looking into the modus operandi of the theft.

”As a part of routine patrolling, policemen were posted at Mahabirsthan. Around 5.15 am, our men saw a rickshaw loaded with temple utensils and seized the rickshaw on suspicion. The person travelling on it, however, managed to slip away with a sizeable portion of the goods,” said Pranab Kumar Mandal, the inspector-in-charge of Siliguri Police Station.

Mandal said the police have been able to lay their hands on a vital clue and are hopeful that they will be able to trace the remaining articles soon. “We have started our investigation and very soon we will be able to nab the culprits,” he said.

The theft appears to have been planned well in advance.

“I woke up early this morning at around 4.30 am and found that the door of my house was locked from outside. “Hearing my cries for help, neighbours opened the door. I had a feeling that something was wrong and rushed to the temple. When I got there, I found the door ajar and discovered that two strong locks had been broken. I then checked the almirah and found it empty,” temple purohit Parimal Bhattacharya said.

Temple articles like plates, buckets, bowls, ghatis, and special utensils for carrying prasad and making offerings were recovered from Mahabirstan even before a formal complaint was launched. These copper and brass articles were recovered by the police. It is suspected that the thief abandoned them in the area.