Gadag: Police on Friday arrested four persons in connection with the vandalism of the Saraswati statue at the historic Trikuteshwara temple on July 10 and are searching for a fifth suspect.Gadag Town police identified the arrested accused as Balesh Kalasannavar, Asif Bagwan, Basu Sandur and Rajesab Hasansab Nadaf, all residents of Belagavi district.“Another accused, Vitthal, is absconding and efforts are on to trace him. During interrogation, the accused admitted to damaging the statue using an iron punch, suspecting that a hidden treasure lay beneath it,” police said.The Trikuteshwara temple, believed to have been built in the 8th century, is a protected historical monument. Historical records indicate that the temple had earlier been defaced during the 16th century. The latest act of vandalism has sparked concern among heritage lovers and local residents.
