Airfield Police have cracked a burglary case involving the Maa Tarini Temple in Bhimatangi by arresting four youths, including habitual offenders, on Monday.
The arrested accused have been identified as Biku Bhoi alias Dhola (25), Sanjay Bhoi alias Gunga (26), and Silu Bhoi alias Silua (25)—all residents of the Sundarpada area—along with Somanatha Nayak alias Kanha (22), residing in Sundarpada, Patna Bhoi Sahi.
According to police, the burglary took place on July 15 around noon. Following a complaint lodged by Basanta Kumar Patra, police traced that the four accused arrived on two motorcycles in a planned manner. Silua and Kanha initially entered the temple premises and stole the hundi (charity box) before fleeing. Shortly after, Dhola and Gunga arrived on another motorcycle and made off with the deity’s silver crown.
The entire act was captured on the temple’s CCTV cameras. Analysing the footage alongside inputs from local informants, police identified the suspects. Early on September 21, an Airfield Police team raided a location near the Kaliasuni Temple, arresting Dhola, Gunga, and Silua. Based on their disclosures, Kanha was later apprehended from the Khordha area.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime, admitting they had spent all the money looted from the charity box on alcohol. Police have recovered the discarded empty hundi from a location disclosed by the main accused, Dhola.
Police noted that all four accused are local repeat offenders with prior cases, and Dhola has a past conviction. Officers presented them in court on Monday on relevant BNS, 2023 charges.
