DENPASAR ~ Residents of Desa Pekraman Tegal Jadi, Marga, Tabanan, were astounded over robberies of five temples there, a villager said.

I Wayan Bagiartha, 55, a witness to the aftermath of the crime, said that when he arrived at Pura Dalem, he was surprised to find sacred ceremonial materials, including canang and sesari, scattered on the floor.

“It was a mess,” he said. “Even the ceremonial coins were left on the ground.”

Bagiartha said he reported the incident to the head of the village, I Made Suarta, who gathered a team to check the inventory of temples in the area.

The team reported that items were missing and that various religious statues and heirlooms had been upturned at the following temples: Dalem, Puseh, Kayhyangan, Madya and Ibu.

Suarta said he turned the case over to the local police chief, Wayan Dasra.

The chief had yet to release further information on the robberies, but advised the villagers to hold a religious ceremony.

“In response to these incidents, the people should hold a special ceremonial procession,” he said.