Miscreants target women devotees at Durga Puja mandap in Bhubaneswar, loot 4 gold chains

Unidentified miscreants decamped with gold chains from four women devotees who had come to have the darshan of Goddess Durga on the occasion of auspicious Maha Ashtami at Bomikhal puja mandap in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

As per reports, the miscreants targeted the women devotees and snatched their gold chains weighing around 10 grams each in just 15 minutes.

The victims have lodged separate complaints in this regard at the nearest police station. Subsequently, police have started an investigation into the incident based on CCTV footage.

Police are suspecting that one women lootera gang might have targeted the women devotees at the mandap. Video footage of the CCTV cameras installed near the mandap is being examined to identify the miscreants and other clues.

Local residents have alleged that these kinds of incidents are happening as the women police officials deployed by Commissionerate Police at the mandaps are allegedly remaining absent from duty.

“I entered the Bomikhal puja mandap at around 10.15 am. However, I found to my utter dismay that my gold chain was missing just after 15 minutes. I have no clue how it was snatched,” said Lili Das, one of the victims.

“We have installed as many as 12 CCTV cameras near the puja mandap for surveillance. The women police personnel deployed by the Commissionerate Police have not yet reached our mandap. Due to the negligence, such kinds of incidents occurred.  Repeatedly, we have made the devotees aware of the lady lootera gang and urged them to be careful. However, they are not paying any attention to our requests. What we could do under this kind of circumstances,” rued Bomikhal Puja Committee Secretary, Ajay Pradhan.