Another temple looted in Odisha's Puri; 14 temples robbed in 4 months

Temple thefts continue to escalate in Odisha, with the latest incident being reported from Puri on Friday. Miscreants have allegedly looted valuables from the Bali Kapileshwar Mahadev Temple in the district.

The unidentified miscreants allegedly broke into the temple, forced open the donation box (Hundi), and looted cash late Thursday night. According to the complaint filed by temple authorities, the thieves also broke the main entrance.

The crime was discovered when the temple priest arrived in the morning and found the locks broken, with the Hundi lying open. He immediately informed the temple trustee, who then reported the incident to the police, who have now launched an investigation to nab the miscreants.

Also Read: Ornaments of Jagannath temple deities looted in Odisha's Phulbani

“The main door was open and the steel Hundi box was missing. After getting information about it, we informed the police,” said Rajesh Mohanty, Trustee, Bali Kapileshwar Mahadev Temple.

Mohanty further alleged that a gang is behind the loot in different temple, hotels and places in Puri.

This marks yet another temple theft in Odisha , where religious sites have increasingly become soft targets for criminals. 

A series of temple thefts have been reported across Odisha in recent months, raising grave security concerns. On February 9, a similar incident occurred at Jagannath Temple in Phulbani, Kandhamal, where thieves looted valuables and cash from the donation box. 

Prior to that, on January 20, miscreants looted Siruli Mahavir Temple in Puri . 

On January 16, 2025, miscreants looted cash and gold crowns from Saila Srikhetra Jagannath Temple in Angul. 

On January 4, 2025, the Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple in Cuttack was targeted, deeply shocking devotees. 

On December 23, 2024, thieves broke into Chingudikhola Kali Temple in Ganjam and looted its donation box.

On November 25, 2024, four temples in Gardapara, Ganjam, were looted , with miscreants ransacking donation boxes and stealing sacred items. 

The theft at Tara Tarini Temple in Ganjam in November 2024 left devotees stunned, as looters used cutter machines to gain entry and stole valuables worth lakhs. 

Also Read: Odisha turning 'unsafe' for religious sites: 12 temples 'looted' within 100 days

Similarly, on November 12, 2024, Maa Santoshi Temple in Nuapada was robbed, prompting a police complaint.

Even Durga Puja Mandap in Jajpur was not spared, with a daring theft taking place on October 11, 2024. On October 4, 2024, thieves targeted Beleswar and Duladevi temples in Bhubaneswar, cutting through grill locks and looting cash and ornaments. 

These recurring incidents have sparked outrage among locals and renewed calls for better security at religious sites.