In a brazen act of sacrilege, masked thieves targeted the revered Majisa temple on Gadra Road in Barmer district, making off with a significant haul of gold ornaments and cash. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the local community, occurred late on Sunday night and was discovered by devotees arriving for morning prayers on Monday.
The Heist: A Detailed Timeline
Preliminary investigations by the Barmer police indicate the crime was committed between Sunday night and the early hours of Monday. The temple's CCTV system captured the entire operation, providing crucial evidence. The footage shows three masked individuals entering the premises armed with iron rods.
They systematically broke locks and gates to reach the temple's inner sanctum. Their target was the center lock, which housed gold ornaments dedicated to Mataji. The audacious robbery lasted for approximately an hour and a half. Before fleeing, the thieves left behind two broken locks at the main and side gates and also attempted to break into the main storehouse.
Police Response and Forensic Investigation
Senior police officials, including Barmer Superintendent of Police Narendra Singh Meena and Additional SP Nitesh Arya, swiftly arrived at the crime scene. Their immediate priorities were to secure the temple, reassure devotees, and launch a thorough investigation.
To gather scientific evidence, teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and a police dog squad were summoned. SP Meena addressed the gathered crowd of angry trustees and devotees, assuring them of diligent efforts to apprehend the culprits. He revealed a telling detail: the thieves took only gold, leaving silver utensils behind. This selective looting strongly suggests the perpetrators had insider knowledge of the temple's layout and security. SP Meena committed to cracking the case by Tuesday evening.
Community Outrage and Security Concerns
The theft has sparked palpable anger and distress among the temple's trustees and devotees. Temple trustee Ashok Bhunia expressed deep concern, revealing that this was not an isolated event. He called it the fifth or sixth such theft in the area, highlighting a persistent security problem.
Bhunia lamented the breach, especially since the temple had recently undergone construction and enhancements. The Pran-Pratishtha ceremony was held earlier this year, making the violation feel even more profound. The incident has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of existing security measures at places of worship in the region.
As the police pursue all leads, the community awaits justice and demands stronger protection for their sacred spaces to prevent such desecrations in the future.
