TV
A series of loot took place last night in the Podasul area under the Nilagiri police station limits of Balasore district, where robbers decamped with cash and valuables, including a gold crown worth several lakhs of rupees from the Shani and Kali temples here.
Disturbing Discovery by Temple Priest
According to reports, the temple priest reached the premises to begin the morning rituals at around Monday dawn when he found that the gates to the Kali Temple were wide open. Upon probing further, he found that the locks to the interior storage rooms were broken.
Locals Alerted and Police Notified
Sources added that the priest then informed locals, who contacted the Nilagiri police. However, before the arrival of the authorities, locals surveyed the premises and found that three donation boxes were smashed open and left behind but with no cash in them.
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Shani Temple Also Targeted
Locals further added that upon being alerted by the priest, they also discovered that a Shani Temple located about a kilometre away was also robbed and its vaults stolen.
Valuables Looted from Both Temples
“Locks of three donation boxes from the Kali Temple and from another temple right adjacent to it were smashed open, and cash was looted from them. We estimate the amount to be about Rs 1.5 to 2 lakhs. A gold crown and related ornaments were also stolen. Similar loot also occurred at the Shani Temple located a bit ahead,” added a local and member of the temple management committee.
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Police Investigation Underway
Upon receiving the information, Nilagiri police reached the spot and have begun their investigation but have not offered any additional comments on the matter so far.
It is worth noting that the loot added to an alarming spurt in temple loots in the state recently, with similar reports surfacing from neighboring Bhadrak not long before.
