Udupi, Dec 15: The thick glass shield provided to the newly built grotto of St Antony, located in the compound of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Kolagiri near Kallianpur in the district, was found to have been shattered by miscreants on the morning of Tuesday December 15. It is thought that the mischief mongers had thrown stones at the grotto.

In the church, falling under Kallainpur Varado, a four-day ‘Good shepherd’s Prayer Meet’ has been going on since December 13. The participants had left after the meet on Monday December 14, at 7.30 pm.

In the early morning, a man named Ashwin from this parish, who had approached the grotto to offer flowers, saw glass splinters scattered on the ground. This grotto had been built with the help of the donors, and inaugurated recently.

Parish priest, Fr Jerome Monteiro, said that unidentified miscreants had damaged the grotto. Superintendent of police Pravin Madhukar Pawar, DySP Jayant Shetty, Brahmavar circle inspector Krishamurty and others visited the spot and gathered information from the local people. Congress leader, Veronica Carnelio, was present.

The policemen have registered a case and expressed confidence about bringing the culprits involved to book.