In a dramatic turn of events in the high-profile Thawe Bhawani Temple theft case, one of the accused was shot and injured during a police operation in Gopalganj on Saturday morning. The incident occurred when the police team attempted to arrest the suspect, leading to an exchange of fire.
Encounter Leads to Recovery of Stolen Crown
The accused, identified as Izmamul Alam (21), allegedly opened fire on the police team when they moved to arrest him. The police were forced to retaliate in self-defence, resulting in Alam sustaining injuries. He was subsequently admitted to a hospital for treatment. Alam, a resident of Govindganj in East Champaran district, was currently living in Rani Sagar village in Bhojpur's Shahpur area.
The police had been tracking Alam for his alleged involvement in the daring theft of jewellery worth Rs 1.08 crore from the revered Thawe Bhawani Temple on December 17. During the encounter, officers achieved a significant breakthrough by recovering part of the stolen items, including a precious crown.
Gopalganj SP Avdhesh Dixit stated, “Police recovered part of the stolen crown from the criminal at the spot. This crown was hidden about 1,500 metres away from the temple after the theft, which the accused had come to retrieve.”
Digital Footprint Unveils Mastermind's Plan
The investigation has revealed a meticulously planned heist orchestrated by the alleged mastermind, Deepak Rai, a resident of Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh. Rai was arrested earlier in the probe. Police discovered that Rai used digital platforms extensively to gather information and plan the theft.
Between December 9 and 13, Rai conducted detailed online reconnaissance. His digital trail, recovered from his cellphone, shows he watched 10–12 YouTube videos, visited temple websites, and used Google Maps to study the temple’s layout and security measures. This phone served as crucial digital evidence.
The probe further indicated that on the night of December 10–11, Rai planned to scale the temple wall using a rope and even scouted a nearby construction site. CCTV footage confirmed his presence near both the temple and the construction site that very night.
Anonymous Tip and Forensic Evidence Seal the Case
SP Dixit explained that the case saw a major breakthrough when police received an anonymous tip-off suggesting the thief was from Ghazipur. Acting on this, a police team raided Ghazipur and tracked down Deepak Rai. Although he was absent during the raid, police learned of his prior criminal history involving theft and jail time.
A manhunt was launched, leading to Rai's arrest on the night of December 22 near the Uttar Pradesh border in Gopalganj. Forensic evidence played a decisive role in confirming his involvement. Fingerprints found on the temple’s locker, wall, and the rope used in the crime matched Rai's records.
The recovery of the stolen crown from Alam and the arrest of the mastermind mark significant progress in the investigation. The case highlights the evolving nature of crime, where traditional theft is now aided by digital tools for planning and reconnaissance.
