A special police team led by Sadar SDPO investigated all the cases registered in various police stations of Balasore. During investigation, seven accused were arrested who were involved in various temple theft cases in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts.
Balasore SP Sagarika Nath said that all the accused are from Mayurbhanj district. Police first managed to arrest four from Chandipur area. He was sent to policy custody. During interrogation he revealed the involvement of other people.
Accordingly, the police arrested three others, the SP said.
Many stolen items were recovered from them. The value of the seized goods is estimated to be more than Rs 6 lakh.
The gang used to steal silver jewelery including brass idols from various temples in Mayurbhanch and Balasore districts. Of these, three thieves were stealing jewelery from religious places while three others were engaged in selling them.
Cyber team and district police were searching for them for a long time. Eventually, they managed to capture them.
Out of the total theft cases in 19 temples, 80 percent of the stolen goods have been recovered. The SP said that the remaining six temple theft cases are under investigation. Over the past few months, temple jewelery was stolen from temples in various places in the district including Jaleswar, Singla, Kamarda, Rupsa, Soro, Nilgiri areas. Further investigation is ongoing in this incident.
“We will call officials and sevaks of various temples and organize a TI parade before handing over the items to the respective temples,” he said at a press conference.
