KASARAGOD: Burglars broke into Sri Shankara Narayana Temple at nearby Shiriya and decamped with temple jewellery estimated to cost Rs 7 lakh. The burglary was noticed by chief priest Naveen Bhat and his assistant Ashokan who reached the temple at 5.45 am on Sunday to perform pujas.

The burglars gained entry into the temple by breaking open the iron fence and the door of the sanctum sanctorum, Kumbla Police Sub-Inspector P V Sivadasan told The Hindu here.

The dog squad and fingerprint experts inspected the temple after temple managing trustee Balakrishna Shetty lodged a complaint with the Kumbla police station here.

The police have registered cases under IPC Sections 457 (trespass), 380 (theft) and 461 (breaking of hundi boxes) in the temple.

The temple is located close to Sri Kanipura Gopala Krishnan temple, where a burglary attempt was reported barely a month ago.