NEW DELHI: In a bizarre event, a theft took place at the Tekri Sarkar Hanuman Temple in Guna, Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, where six thieves stole over 12 kilograms of silver jewellery from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum.
The stolen items included silver necklaces, crowns, maces, umbrellas, and bangles adorning the deity’s idol.
The incident, which occurred around 3 a.m., was captured on the temple’s CCTV cameras. The footage shows the thieves entering the temple, bowing before the idol, and then systematically removing the jewellery.
According to the temple’s priests, the thieves first overpowered the temple’s security guard, Shishupal, tying him to a tree outside before breaking into the sanctum. Two of the thieves entered the inner sanctum while the others stood guard. One thief used a cutter to remove the jewellery and handed it over to his accomplice.
“Eight silver bangles, three necklaces, two maces, silver footwear, and two umbrellas were stolen,” a priest reported. The total weight of the stolen items exceeds 12 kilograms.
This is not the first time the Tekri Sarkar Temple has been targeted. “This is the fourth theft at the temple. We are devastated by this repeated desecration,” another priest mentioned.
Local authorities have launched a thorough investigation, utilizing a dog squad and fingerprint experts to track down the culprits.
The video of the theft has gone viral on social media, with many users expressing shock and outrage. “Fear and faith in God are present, but hunger, greed, and unemployment are likely overshadowing these sentiments,” one user commented.
The Tekri Sarkar Temple, located about 5 kilometres from the Guna district headquarters, houses an ancient south-facing Hanuman idol, believed to date back to the 7th century BC. The temple’s remote location on a hilltop has made it a challenging target for security.