Pulwama, May 1: Amid the surging Coronavirus crisis, burglars stole a cash-filled iron chest from a shrine in Rahmoo area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district during the intervening night of Friday-Saturday.

Locals said that burglars broke into the revered shrine of ‘Hazrat Sayed Muhammad Qasim’ (RA) and stole the cash filled chest.

Inhabitants of the area while expressing shock over the incident appealed the district authorities, especially the police to take strong action against the burglars.

They held drug addicts responsible for the act.

“The drug menace has shattered everything in the district. Drug addicts loot goods and cash whenever they get a chance. Those responsible for the act should be hanged,” said a visibly angry local.

Pertinently, most of the shrines in Valley are deserted due to Coronavirus-induced lockdown imposed by the government authorities in wake of surge in Covid-19 cases.