Thieves target two temples in Udala; silver crown and donation box looted

Thieves struck two temples in Odisha’s Udala NAC area late on Wednesday night, carrying out thefts at the ancient Mani Nageshwar Temple and the Gayatri Temple in Ward No. 9, triggering concern and outrage among local residents.

At the Mani Nageshwar Temple, miscreants allegedly broke open the donation box and stole a brass container belonging to the deity. Temple authorities said the donation box had not been opened for the past seven years, raising apprehensions over the scale of the theft.

Meanwhile, at the nearby Gayatri Temple, the thieves reportedly decamped with the silver crown of the goddess, along with several silver and brass utensils used for daily worship.

Upon receiving information, Udala police rushed to the spot and launched an investigation. During the preliminary probe, police recovered a footprint resembling that of a child near the entrance of one of the temples, leading to suspicion that a minor may have been involved in the incident.

Police are currently examining CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify the culprits and track their movement. Forensic teams have also collected evidence from both temple premises.

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Following the incident, local residents have demanded increased night patrolling and better security arrangements for religious places in the area.

Police officials said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those involved and assured that the case would be solved at the earliest.