Shillong, November 28: A pre-dawn burglary at the Unitarian Church in Madan Laban early Thursday morning has left the community shaken as thieves stole items of profound spiritual and historical significance.
The incident, which occurred between 3:30 a.m. and 4:00 a.m., saw the thieves take four large brass flower pots and two chalices from the old and new church buildings. The library was also vandalized, adding to the distress of church members.
“These items are not just material possessions but hold deep spiritual and historical significance for our congregation,” said a church official, voicing the collective anguish of the community.
The break-in has reignited concerns about the security of religious institutions in Shillong, following a similar burglary at the Grotto Chapel in Laitumkhrah earlier this month. In that incident, cash and electronics were stolen. While no sacred artifacts were desecrated in either case, the repeated targeting of churches has alarmed residents and raised questions about the safety of these spiritual spaces.
Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation. Fingerprint experts have collected evidence from the scene, and further inquiries are underway.
Local leaders and church officials have urged the administration to act swiftly and strengthen security at religious institutions across the city. Residents, deeply unsettled by the spate of burglaries, are demanding immediate measures to ensure the protection of their places of worship and a swift resolution to the ongoing investigations.