Bandits broke and entered the Tuschen New Scheme Mandir some time between Thursday and yesterday morning, carting off and destroying articles valued $500,000.
The discovery was made around 8am yesterday by the secretary of the mandir, when she went to clean the building for Maha Shivaratri, a religious function to be held on Monday.
Up to late yesterday afternoon, the losses were still being tallied by members of the organization while many voiced their concern that the perpetrators disrespected their religion.
The secretary who made the discovery was not around, but the members explained that the locks on the main doors were broken.
Rohan Ramroop, who has been attending the mandir for the past three years, said the interior of the building was littered with faeces and liquids which were smeared around the floor. He added that the eastern side of the concrete kitchen wall was broken and the utensils and groceries which were purchased for the religious activity were eaten while some were stolen.
According to the concerned Ramroop, the perpetrators carted off instruments which are very costly. He noted that two of the Murti (images of Hindu gods) were destroyed and their clothing and jewellery stripped off.
“De people who break in de place tek a knife a mark up the Murti all over de body. Dey even drink out de milk and spill some on the floor and defecated and spread it all over,” he said.
The mandir was built about four years ago and had never been broken into. Members explained that the articles which have been stolen and destroyed were purchased through fundraising activities.
The concerned members noted that while the incident has left many discouraged, they will not rest until the perpetrators are detained.
However, while a few of the members are optimistic that justice will prevail in the matter others voiced their concerns that the police sometimes act handicapped in conducting their investigations.
One of the members raised their disgust of the work of the neighbourhood policing group. The break and enter, according to the member, was reported to a member of the neighbourhood policing group, who refused to visit the mandir.
Shaheed Ahmad, Chairman of the policing group, during an interview with this newspaper said the police have been working enthusiastically to capture the law breakers. He said he is counting on the police to work together with them to accomplish a crime free community. “People must be free to leave their homes open… but all it takes is togetherness in acquiring this,” he highlighted.
Meanwhile, when Stabroek News spoke to other residents in Tuschen they expressed concern about the level of crime in the area. A gang rape, according to a few villagers, occurred in the community just about a week ago. “Four men rape a 13-year-old girl at de back of the scheme… But de police hold de men them but nothing ain’t coming out ah de story because like de men want to pay off de lil girl family. Plenty things does happen in this place but de police really ain’t doing dey job right,” one man expressed.
“When dey thief you things you gotta spend money every time to buy it back. This thing [crime] is getting out of hand,” another resident said.
According to reports, a man’s home was broken into up to yesterday, and $26,000 was reportedly stolen. No one has been arrested.
The lack of community policing patrols, according to the villagers, is one of the main factors which trigger the prevalence. Many people also pointed out that most of the perpetrators carry out the unlawful acts during daytime hours.
