Four Temples Looted in Odisha’s Keonjhar Village Overnight

Residents of Belabahali village in Odisha’s Keonjhar district woke up to shocking news on Friday as four local temples were discovered to have been looted overnight. The thieves stole gold and silver ornaments adorning the idols and emptied donation boxes, leaving the community stunned.

The theft came to light when a local woman arrived at one of the temples for her morning prayers and noticed that the doors had been tampered with and the deities stripped of their ornaments. As news spread, villagers realized that the shrines of Goddess Jagannath, Goddess Bimala, Goddess Lakshmi, and Lord Ram had all been targeted in a coordinated manner.

While inspecting the area, villagers found the emptied donation boxes dumped in a nearby field, smashed and hidden under hay, with all cash removed. The scale of the theft has left the local community in a state of shock and fear.

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Ghasipura police immediately secured the crime scenes and deployed two teams to record statements, reconstruct the timeline of the break-ins, and gather evidence. Forensic experts and a dog squad are expected to join the investigation soon, although a formal special task force has not yet been established.

Authorities have appealed to villagers for any leads, while patrols have been increased in the region to prevent further incidents. Local officials emphasized that the investigation is being handled directly by the Inspector-in-Charge to ensure swift action.

The looting has raised concerns about the security of religious institutions in rural Odisha, with residents urging authorities to implement stronger measures to protect temples and their sacred treasures from such audacious crimes.

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