Shivamogga: In connection with the theft of national awards that had occured in the ancestral home-turned-museum of Rashtrakavi Kuvempu at Kuppali, Shivamogga police on Wednesday quizzed staff and members of Kuvempu Pratishtana, gardeners, cleaners, and security guards in order to nab the culprits.
A team comprising two additional superintendents, three deputy superintendents and four inspectors has been constituted to probe the case by the Superintendent of Police, Ravi. D. Channannavar.
Speaking to the media persons, SP said, “The watchman on duty should have been more alert when he heard noise from inside. The local police have obtained only one CCTV clipping which was released on Monday evening but have we have no other clues about those who broke in and took away the medals.” he said.
Additional Superintendent of Police Vishnuvardhan, has stepped up security at Kuvempu’s ancestral house in Tirthahalli.
Deputy superintendent (Tirthahalli) Ramachandra told sources that the watchman at the entrance gate heard some noise from inside the monument around 8.30 pm on the day of theft took place. He rushed to the main door and tried to open it, but it was locked from inside. Then, he alerted people at a canteen nearby and also authorities of Kuvempu Pratishtana. By the time the authorities opened the main door, the thieves had escaped.
Earlier police had released a CCTV image of a person in action inside Kuvempu’s house.
Iconic Kannada poet Kuvempu’s prestigious Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awards were stolen from his ancestral home Kavishaila in Theerthahalli on November 24. The robbers smashed six CC cameras, a telephone set and office material and escaped with Rs 1,000 cash kept in the book stall counter.
He was conferred Padma Bhushan award in the year 1958 and Padma Vibhushan in 1988.
