Thief targets devotees gold inside temple

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The immense treasure that lay inside the secret chambers of the Sree Padmanabha Temple was not at all enticing to the thief who crept into the crowd of devotees inside the temple on Sunday. Because all he was interested in was the gold chains that adorned the necks of devotees. Even the presence of a band of specially trained officers, standing guard in and around the temple, did not deter the unidentified thief from exercising his skills. As many as three women who came to offer prayers on Sunday alleged that their gold chains were snatched by the unidentified thief. Necklaces weighing about 12 sovereigns of gold were snatched.   The Fort Police are groping in the dark over the whereabouts of the elusive thief. Just a day after the crime took place, the police seem to have lost hope of nabbing the culprit. ‘’The crime was reported to the police after about an hour after it took place. By the time the police was informed, the thief managed to escape,’’ said Anil Kumar, the Circle Inspector of Fort police station. Even though the officials of Special Armed Police and National Security Guards are posted in and around the temple, their primary duty is to ensure the safety of the wealth inside the temple. They can act on such crimes, only if they are informed immediately after the incident occurs, the inspector added.