Major Burglary Strikes Srikakulam Temple in Early Morning Raid
In a shocking incident, burglars targeted the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Kasibugga, Srikakulam district, during the early hours of Monday. This temple had previously witnessed a tragic stampede on November 1 last year, which claimed nine lives. The thieves made off with valuable gold and silver ornaments belonging to the deity, along with cash and other items from the collection box.
How the Burglary Unfolded
The burglars entered the temple through the back gate, taking advantage of what appears to be low security at the site. They stole ornaments from the presiding deity, broke open the hundi (collection box), and took away the cash and valuables inside. In a move to cover their tracks, they also damaged CCTV cameras and removed the DVR unit, which records surveillance footage.
Temple administrator Harimukund Panda estimated the total value of the stolen items to exceed Rs 60 lakh. Police later confirmed that around 72 grams of gold and 15 kilograms of silver ornaments were taken in the heist.
Discovery and Police Response
One of the priests arrived at the temple at 5 am and immediately noticed something was wrong. He found the back door open and quickly realized that the deity's ornaments were missing. The priest raised an alarm, alerting authorities to the crime.
Srikakulam police, led by Palasa-Kasibugga region DSP Sheikh Shahbaz Ahmed, rushed to the scene along with a clues team. The DSP announced that a special investigation team has been formed to track down and apprehend the culprits responsible for this brazen theft.
Background on Temple Security
It is important to note that since the stampede incident on November 1 last year, police had barred devotees from entering the temple premises. However, regular pooja rituals continued to be performed by priests inside the temple. This restriction may have contributed to reduced security presence, which the burglars exploited to carry out their plan.
The community is now left grappling with this latest blow to a place of worship that has already endured significant tragedy. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation intensifies.
