Police are investigating an alleged sacrilege at the Nav Durga Mandir in Baulevu, Nausori yesterday morning.

Temple priest Pundit Vineshwar Sharma said the temple burglar bars were removed from the temple’s side window.

Pundit Sharma said the Holy Ramayana was allegedly set on fire and coins were scattered on the temple stage.

“Worshippers would usually insert money in the Ramayana so I think that’s what the thieves were looking for,” he said

“But we really did not expect them to burn the holy book as they have done.”

He said a member who lived near the temple witnessed smoke coming out of the temple windows at around 6am yesterday.

“They came to see what had happened and managed to put out the fire.”

Vice President of the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha Fiji Pundit Vigyan Sharma National said they were saddened and shocked to hear of the heart breaking message that again their place of worship had been vandalised and scriptures and other prayer items put on fire.

He said they strongly condemned such acts against their religion.

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