2 THEFTS in 3 DAYS at Jain temples

Staff Reporter :

Thieves target Jain temple at Sukhi Sewania and flee with idols, ornaments worth over Rs 15 lakh

THIEVES targeted the Digambar Jain temple of Sukhi Sevania and made off with idols and other costly ornaments on intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The accused had shattered all the five locks of the temple to enter the premises. The accused, however, have been caught in CCTV footage and police are searching them. Amitabh Maniya Jain, who is a complainant, said that the accused struck the temple late night around 2:28 am and made off with valuables which are estimated to be over Rs 15 lakh.

They have stolen a safe which had an idol and ornaments attached to it, he said. The Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Adinath was also stolen. The total value of the stolen goods is around Rs 15 lakh, said Jain. Digambar Jain Temple is in Ahimsa Sthali Colony of Sukhi Sewania. This colony is close to the railway station. On Wednesday morning, police and FSL team went to the temple for investigation. The thieves are visible in the CCTV footage. Police have registered an FIR on the complaint of temple committee. This is the second incident of theft in Digambar Jain temple in Bhopal in a span of three days. Earlier on Sunday night, miscreants had stolen the idol of Lord Parshvanath by breaking the lock of the sanctum sanctorum of Digambar Jain temple in Neelbad area at Ratibad.

Jain told that the campus of Ahimsa Sthali Colony is completely covered. The thieves cut the grill on the boundary wall at the rear side of the temple and later they broke the five locks on the main gate of the temple. They also took a locker where silver idol and ornaments were kept, said Jain. The thieves also tried to break away the safe full of cash. After failing, they came out of the temple and ran away. Three thieves had entered the temple while two of their accomplices are believed to be standing outside to keep watch. Police also suspect that an outside gang may be involved in the incident. Besides, the police have yet to arrest the accused who were involved in the theft at Jain Temple in Mahavir Vihar Colony of Ratibad.