Kendrapada: The famed Dakhinakali temple at Bharatpur village in Kendrapada district was burgled on Friday night, with thieves decamping with gold and silver ornaments, a silver crown, silver and brass utensils, and deities' apparel worth around Rs 15 lakh. Cash was also stolen from the temple's hundis (donation boxes).
The theft came to light on Saturday morning when temple priests noticed the break-in. Subsequently, Shiba Prasad Das, a member of the temple trust board, and Gobindachandra Mishra, one of the temple priests, lodged an FIR at Kendrapada Sadar police station.
Of the five CCTV cameras installed in the temple, the burglars damaged four. However, footage from one functioning camera has captured the image of one of the men who entered the temple at night. "We are examining the CCTV footage to identify all those involved," said Kendrapada Sadar police station inspector-in-charge Padmalaya Pradhan.
Police have registered a case under sections 331(2) (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence) and 305 (theft in dwelling house, etc.) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). "Investigation is underway to nab the culprits," the IIC said. Police suspect the handiwork of an organised gang experienced at targeting religious places. A special team has been formed to probe the theft, and a scientific team has also been engaged. Investigators are questioning a section of temple priests and local residents, and they are not ruling out possible insider involvement, police said.
Meanwhile, large numbers of people gathered at the temple on Saturday morning after news of the burglary spread in nearby villages, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible.
