Two temples located within a distance of about 100 metres of each other in Rajasthan’s Sikar were targeted in a theft during the night. Bhutnath Mahadev Temple and Motinath Temple, both located in the Kotwali police station area, were broken into, with thieves smashing locks and donation boxes using stones and iron rods before fleeing with cash.
The theft came to light in the morning when the priests arrived to open the temples and conduct regular prayers. Both temples are situated on the main road leading from Salasar Bus Stand towards Chandpol. According to preliminary information, the theft occurred after around 1:30 am.
According to the information available, the thieves first broke the locks to enter the two temples. They then targeted the donation boxes. Stones and iron rods were reportedly used to break the locks and donation boxes.
Stones were found near the broken donation box at Bhutnath Mahadev Temple. This indicates that stones available in the surrounding area may have been used to break the donation box. The donation box at Motinath Temple was also reportedly broken in a similar manner.
The thieves fled with the cash kept in the donation boxes of both temples. However, the total amount of cash present in the two donation boxes has not yet been established.
The theft at both temples was discovered in the morning. When the priests arrived to open the temples and conduct regular prayers, they found the locks and donation boxes broken. The incident was subsequently reported.
Information about the theft spread locally after the incident came to light. The fact that two temples located close to each other were targeted on the same night led to anger among people in the area.
According to local residents, both temples are situated near the main road and are only about 100 metres apart. Despite this, the thieves carried out the thefts at both locations.
The method used in the theft indicates that heavy objects were used to break the temple locks and donation boxes. Stones were reportedly found near the broken donation box at Bhutnath Mahadev Temple.
Signs of the donation box being broken were also found at Motinath Temple. The similar method used at both temples has led local residents to raise concerns about the incident.
It is not yet clear how many thieves were involved or which route they used to reach the temples. Information about the direction in which they fled after the theft is also not available.
The incident has caused anger among local residents. People said the two temples are located a short distance from each other and that police patrols are conducted in the area. Despite this, the thieves targeted both temples during the night.
Local residents have raised questions about night-time security and police patrolling in the area. They said attention should also be given to the security of religious places to prevent such incidents.
Police have not yet clarified where patrol teams were positioned in the area at the time of the incident or how long the theft took.
The breaking of the donation boxes at both temples has been confirmed, but no official information is currently available about the amount of money they contained. The temple management and priests have also not provided a figure for the total amount stolen.
It is therefore not yet possible to determine how much cash the thieves took. Devotees regularly contribute offerings to the donation boxes, but the actual amount stolen in the incident can be established only after the investigation.
Police are investigating the case after receiving information about the theft. Efforts to identify the thieves may be based on circumstances at the crime scenes and in the surrounding area.
Both temples are located along the main road. CCTV footage from nearby locations could therefore be relevant to the investigation. Police may use the footage to gather information about the movement of people and vehicles around the temples during the night.
Based on the information currently available, it has not been established whether police have identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the theft.
The two thefts took place at temples located approximately 100 metres apart. Both temples are reportedly situated on the main road from Salasar Bus Stand towards Chandpol.
The thieves targeted the donation boxes at both locations and used stones and iron rods to break the locks. This has also raised the question of whether the two incidents occurred around the same time and whether the same group was involved. There is no official confirmation on this matter at present.
The thefts at two temples on the same night have caused concern and anger among people in the area. Local residents have demanded ber security arrangements for religious places.
Residents said that if thieves could break the locks and donation boxes at two nearby temples during the night despite police patrolling, the night-time security arrangements should be reviewed.
The immediate focus of the investigation is to identify those responsible for the theft and determine the amount of money stolen. Broken locks, donation boxes and other evidence found at the temples may form part of the investigation.
The incident in the Kotwali police station area of Sikar has brought local attention to the security of temples. The police investigation is expected to establish how many people were involved, how they reached the temples and which route they used to flee after the theft.
At present, the available information confirms that the donation boxes at both temples were broken and cash was stolen, while the total amount stolen remains unclear.
