Unidentified miscreants vandalised a Hanuman temple in Shillong's Garikhana locality, stealing idols, ornaments and cash after attempting to destroy evidence, the police said.
The incident occurred around 1 am under the jurisdiction of Lumdiengjri police station. The accused broke open a side entrance to gain access to the Hanuman Mandir.
They ransacked the premises in search of valuables, damaging doors and storage areas, and leaving behind signs of forced entry and scattered belongings.
The thieves stole idols of Lord Krishna and Radha, along with a smaller idol of Lord Hanuman. They also took away silver ornaments and several brass ritual items, including water pots, lamps and plates.
An undisclosed amount of cash was removed from the temple's donation box. However, the main idol inside the shrine was left untouched.
The miscreants allegedly set fire to CCTV cameras installed both inside and outside the temple before fleeing the spot.
Surveillance cameras from nearby houses reportedly captured visuals of the suspects escaping.
The incident has triggered concern among residents of Garikhana and neighbouring Jhalupara, with many questioning security arrangements and night patrolling in the busy locality.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation, examining available footage and leads to identify those involved.
