Ahead of Independence Day, thieves steal spectacles on Gandhi statue in Pathanamthitta
In a bizarre incident, thieves have stolen the spectacles from a Mahatma Gandhi statue in Pathanamthitta, leaving the Father of the Nation's likeness sightless ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
The theft is all the more surprising given the constant security presence in the area, with a traffic police officer stationed nearby and a local police station just a stone's throw away. Despite this, the culprits managed to steal the iconic round-framed spectacles and even mockingly drape a garland around the statue's hand.
The lack of action from the police has raised eyebrows, with locals and activists pointing out that a simple review of nearby CCTV footage could easily identify the thieves, yet no official investigation has been launched so far.