Historic Barabanki Temple Targeted in Late-Night Burglary
In a brazen act of theft, unidentified criminals executed a daring burglary at the historic Shri Avsaneswar Mahadev temple, situated in the Haidergarh area of Barabanki district, late on Tuesday night. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised concerns about the security of religious institutions in the region.
Precious Temple Artifacts Stolen in Well-Planned Operation
The thieves managed to break into the temple's sanctum sanctorum and made off with a valuable silver canopy, known as a chhatra, along with silver plating fixed on ritual vessels and other precious puja items. The total weight of the stolen property is estimated to be nearly 7-8 kilograms, with its market value approximated at around Rs25 lakh. This represents a significant loss for the temple and its devotees.
Discovery and Immediate Police Response
The theft was discovered on Wednesday morning when the temple priest arrived to perform daily rituals. He found the channel gate lock broken, the donation box smashed, and temple articles scattered across the premises. Acting swiftly, the priest immediately informed the local police authorities about the disturbing scene.
Following the alert, the Haidergarh police, accompanied by a forensic science team, reached the spot and initiated a detailed inspection of the crime scene. Investigators are currently examining CCTV footage from both the temple premises and nearby routes to identify the perpetrators and trace their movements.
Distinctive Clue: Thief Wore Monkey Mask
Preliminary investigation has revealed a particularly unusual clue: one of the thieves appears to have worn a monkey mask, possibly as a deliberate attempt to conceal his identity during the commission of the crime. This detail adds a bizarre element to an already serious criminal act.
Official Statement and Investigation Details
Haidergarh Kotwali in-charge Abhimanyu Mall confirmed that the thieves gained entry to the temple by breaking the channel gate lock before proceeding to the sanctum. "The incident is being investigated seriously," Mall stated. "Technical surveillance and CCTV analysis are underway, and efforts are on to crack the case at the earliest."
Meanwhile, the Avsaneswar temple committee has submitted a written complaint seeking registration of a First Information Report. According to their complaint, the theft occurred between 2:30 AM and 3:00 AM, during which the silver canopy, silver-plated arghya, and cash from the donation box were stolen.
Rising Trend of Temple Thefts in the District
What has added to public concern is the apparent rising trend of temple thefts in Barabanki district. On the same morning as the Avsaneswar temple incident, another theft of puja materials was reported from a temple at Bhagouli Teerth in the Baddupur police station area. Several similar incidents have surfaced over the past month, indicating a pattern that authorities need to address urgently.
The repeated targeting of religious institutions has created anxiety among temple committees and devotees alike, prompting calls for enhanced security measures at places of worship throughout the district.
