Team Goemkarponn
NEW VADDEM: A bizarre and disturbing late-night incident has left New Vaddem residents shocked after St Anthony’s Chapel was found vandalised, with its donation box broken and the statue of St Anthony damaged in the early hours of Wednesday. The vandalism came to light when local residents opened the chapel in the morning and saw the desecration.
According to residents, CCTV footage from the chapel area captured a middle-aged man roaming outside around 1.15 am wearing only women’s underwear and a bra. He is suspected to have broken open the donation box and taken the cash before damaging the statue. The man’s unusual behaviour and the sacrilegious act have sparked outrage in the locality.
The matter was reported to Vasco police, who visited the site, examined the damage, and collected the CCTV footage as part of the investigation. Police have begun efforts to identify and trace the suspect.
Local ward councillor Sudesh Bhosle, who resides in the same area, said that some residents initially assumed the man seen half-clothed at night was mentally unstable and did not anticipate that he would cause damage. “People realised only in the morning that the statue had been vandalised and the donation box broken with money taken. We immediately informed the police, and they have begun their investigation,” Bhosle said, adding that the chapel regularly hosts novenas, attracts daily devotees, and recently held its feast celebrations.
Bhosle urged the community to remain calm and not allow the incident to create divisions. He appealed for enhanced night patrolling to prevent such breaches. “This act should not be misinterpreted or allowed to disturb communal harmony. We request the police to increase vigilance at night,” he said.
Police are continuing their probe to identify the culprit and reassure residents shaken by the incident.
