Miscreants damage brand new grotto at Sacred Heart Church

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Dec 15: Unidentified miscreants damaged the recently constructed grotto of St Antony, situated in the premises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Kolagiri, near Kallianpur, in Udupi on Dec 15, Tuesday. Allegedly, the miscreants had stoned the grotto and broken all the glass panes on it.










A 4-day retreat “Good Shepherd’s Prayer Meet” was organized in the church from Dec 13. Those who had attended it returned home on Dec 14, Monday, at 7:30 p.m. In the early morning, Ashwin, a member of the parish, noticed shards of glass on the ground when he approached the grotto to offer flowers.

Fr. Jerome Monteiro, the parish priest, said the identity of the miscreants is not yet known. The Church will now need Rs 50,000 to repair the grotto, he said.

Pravin Madhukar Pawar, the superintendent of police; DySP Jayanth Shetty; Krishnamoorthy, circle inspector of Brahmavar; and other police officers rushed to the spot and spoke to the local people. Veronica Carnelio, the congress leader, was present.

The police have registered a case and said that they would find and take stern action against the miscreants. Reportedly, Home Minister V S Acharya has requested the authorities concerned to submit a report of the incident. Apparently, the authorities realize that the incident has the potential to spark off a communal riot.