Despite growing demands for strengthening security, miscreants threw an open challenge to the administration and allegedly decamped with silver ornaments and other valuables from a temple in Bhadrak in the wee hours of Wednesday.
As per reports, the burglars looted silver ornaments from Ram and Hanuman temple at Baral Sahi under ward no.1. Apart from the ornaments, the thieves have also looted cash from the donation box.
The priest of the temple said, “I usually get up at 4 AM. I stay near the temple and my door was locked from the outside. With the help of a knife, I had to cut the rope to come out. Later, I saw that all the locks of the temple were broken and the valuables of the deities including silver ornaments and utensils have been stolen.”
The priest informed to have alerted locals and others about the theft. “The cost of all stolen valuables is said to be around Rs 2 lakh. Earlier after a theft at the temple, a home guard was deployed, but the security was subsequently withdrawn,” the priest added.
Meanwhile, the Bhadrak Town Police has started an investigation into the incident.