Cuttack: Unidentified miscreants broke into the Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple in Khannagar, Cuttack, and made away with gold and silver ornaments worth around Rs 20 lakh Friday night. The theft was discovered Saturday morning when the temple priest found the gates broken.
According to police reports, the thieves gained entry through the back door of the temple, which is located on the banks of river Kathajodi. The stolen items include a silver mukuta (headgear), gold mukha (mask), silver gada (mattock), silver garah (pot), and silver slippers (kathau).
“The theft occurred between 2:30 am and 4:30 am,” said Sunil Mishra, the temple priest. He added that while CCTV cameras were installed, recordings have been unavailable since Dec 31, 2024, due to technical issues.
Ranjit Sahoo, a temple management committee member, explained that the temple closes at 9:30 pm daily. “Priests perform rituals at 2 am and 4:30 am, and the theft took place between these visits,” he said.
Local resident Debasish Das expressed concerns over security in the area. “Despite repeated requests for police patrolling, the area has become a hub of anti-social activities, including drug consumption,” he said.
DCP Jagmohan Meena said a forensic team has collected fingerprints and other evidence from the site. “A dog squad has been deployed, and a special team has been formed to probe the case. We will apprehend the culprits soon,” he said.