Robbery & Loot Bids Raise Questions On Security Of Temples In Odisha

Bargarh: Panic gripped residents of Padampur in Bargarh district following a robbery and series of loot bids at different temples in the town last night.

Unidentified miscreants reportedly looted valuables worth lakhs of rupees along with cash from Laxminarayan Temple. Later, they also tried to rob the Durga Temple and Siva Temple situated in the town.
Sources said that robbers entered the Laxminarayan Temple by breaking open the lock of the entrance door and decamped with two silver crowns, three golden tulsi trees and cash stashed inside the donation box of the temple.

Thereafter, they also tried to loot the Durga Temple. However, they failed in their attempt as they could not break open the door of the shrine.

The looters though managed to enter the Siva Temple in the night but they could not decamp with cash as the donation box of the temple was empty. The temple authorities had removed the cash from the donation box earlier after receiving huge amount of donations on the occasion of Shravan Somvar.

The incidents came to light when the priests went to the temples to conduct the daily morning rituals. They immediately informed the matter to the temple authorities. Police complaints were also lodged in connection with the incidents.

The series of incidents have raised many eyebrows about the security of the temples in the area.
Meanwhile, based on the complaints of the temple priests, police have started investigation into the incidents. They are verifying the footages of the CCTVs installed in and around the temples to identify the miscreants.