Author: Avikash Kumar
Publication: www.sun.com.fj
Date: January 19, 2004
Robbers defile famed Hindu monument
An early morning break-in at the
famous Nadi temple shocked many worshippers.
The biggest and most expensively
built temple, the Shri Shiva Subrahmanya Swami temple at the end of Nadi
Town, was broken into at 12:30am yesterday morning.
Temple manager Lachman Naidu said
the duty watchman had gone to have a drink of water when he was attacked
and tied up by two men.
"They tied his hands and mouth so
he could not escape and call for help," Mr Naidu said.
He said the two thieves broke open
the glass-door and ransacked the prayer areas causing lot of damage.
Mr Naidu said the men were obviously
looking for money and got away with more than $1000 in cash that was given
as offerings by worshipers.
The watchman managed to free himself
and notified police.
Mr Naidu said police arrived at
the temple at 7:30am and promised to be back later with police dogs for
further investigations but at 2pm yesterday, Mr Naidu was still waiting
for them to return.
He such sacrilegious acts needed
severe punishment to deter further offences.
It was the second temple attack
within 24 hours, the first being at Salato Circle off Khalsa Road in Suva.
The Shiu Nayaran Mandhir was broken
into during the early hours of Saturday morning with items stolen valued
at more than $1260.
Minister for Multi Ethnic Affairs
George Shiu Raj said peace, unity and multiracialism were being attacked
by such acts.
The Fiji Council of Churches earlier
condemned sacrilegious acts and reminded people that such actions were
sinful and shameful.
General Secretary Benjamin Bhagwan
called on all Christian ministers and preachers to proclaim such acts as
sinful, a violation of Christian faith of love, peace, goodwill and tolerance
of our "neighbours".
The Government also stands strongly
against desecration of holy places regardless of religious belief.
