Unidentified robbers targeted the Shani and Kali temples in Podasul, Balasore, Odisha, making away with gold ornaments and cash amounting to lakhs of rupees.
The incident occurred under the Nilagiri police station limits and has left locals concerned about the security of temples in the region.
The theft was discovered early Monday morning when the priest of the Kali temple arrived to conduct daily rituals. To his dismay, the temple gates were found wide open, and the locks of the storage rooms had been forcibly broken. Donation boxes were smashed, and a significant amount of cash, along with a gold crown and other ornaments, was stolen.
Following the alarming discovery, the priest informed local residents, who promptly alerted the Nilagiri police. Further inspection revealed that the nearby Shani temple had also been robbed. Vaults in the temple had been looted, and valuables were missing.
“We estimate that cash worth Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakhs and a gold crown were stolen from the temples. This is a distressing incident for the community,” a member of the temple management committee stated.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident but have yet to provide further details. This robbery adds to a growing trend of temple thefts in Odisha, raising concerns over the safety of religious sites and their heritage.
Unprecedented surge in temple robberies raises concerns about safety and heritage preservation.
