The Iconic Book Café located just above the historic Ridge Ground in Shimla was on Monday night robbed by unidentified assailants.
Police said the incident came to light at around 8.30 am when locals noticed some monkeys making merry of the food items stored in the café.
The police team which reached the spot found the glass of the front door broken and the Book Café was badly ransacked by the unidentified assailants.
Sources said the assailants allegedly took away cash and other items before fleeing the spot.
“Initial investigations suggest that the accused might have stayed at the crime scene for some time as lots of eatable items were found scattered around with empty bottles of soft drinks inside,” sources added.
Police officials have seized the CCTV footage of the camera, located near the crime scene and they further analyzing it to nab the culprits.
The café came up as a joint initiative of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, Tourism department and the Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services.
The first-of-its-kind cafe in the country as it is run by jail inmates, is funded by the Tourism Department and it has become a major tourist attraction.
The café has a seating capacity of 40 and is constructed at a cost of Rs.20 lakh.
Located right above the Ridge on the way to the famed Jakhu temple, it was inaugurated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in April last year.