Miscreants loot gold ornaments worth lakhs from 3 temples in Odisha’s Balasore

Jaleswar: Gold ornaments and several other valuables worth more than lakhs of rupees were looted by some miscreants late yesterday night from Basuli temple, Tarini temple and Mangala temple at Mahagaba locality under Kamardha police limits in Balasore district.

According to a police source, the dacoits broke open the locks on the main doors of the three shrines and barged into them. They later decamped with gold ornaments and other valuables.

The loot incident came to the fore early in the morning when priests of the shrines and some devotees reached the temples. They found the locks thrown near the main doors. Later, the locals informed the police about it. Kamardha police have registered separate theft cases and launched probes.

“Idols of the presiding deities have been looted at some places. Police patrolling must be stepped up in the locality, otherwise, such incidents will occur more. Sentiments of the devotees have been hurt due to this loot incident,” former Mahagaba sarpanch Pratap Kumar Sahu said.