Historic Hanuman temple in central India, targeted in major heist: over 26 pounds of sacred silver ornaments stolen
by Bhagyashree BarmanIn the early hours of central India’s Madhya Pradesh, a daring robbery took place at the renowned Tekri Sarkar Hanuman Temple leaving the local community in shock.
The incident took place in Guna district on August 25.
Visuals showed the thieves, before committing the theft, paused to pay their respects to the deity, bowing before the idol. This unusual act has added a layer of irony and disbelief to the incident. Once inside, two of the thieves began systematically removing the silver ornaments from the idol. One of the robbers was seen using a cutter to carefully extract the jewelry, which he then passed to his accomplice.
According to reports, the temple, which houses an ancient Hanuman idol, was stripped of more than 26 pounds (12 kilograms) of silver ornaments, including intricate necklaces, crowns, maces, umbrellas, and bangles that adorned the sacred idol.
The robbery was meticulously planned and executed by a group of six thieves who first overpowered and took the temple’s security guard, Shishupal, hostage. The criminals tied him to a tree before making their way into the sanctum sanctorum, where the sacred idol is housed. The entire operation was captured by the temple’s surveillance cameras, providing crucial evidence for the ongoing investigation.
The temple priests reported that eight silver bangles, three necklaces, two maces, footprints, and two umbrellas were among the items stolen. The estimated total weight of the stolen silver exceeds 12 kilograms, making it a significant heist. This is not the first time the Tekri Sarkar Temple has been targeted; this is reportedly the fourth theft at the temple.
Local authorities have launched a thorough investigation, enlisting the help of fingerprint experts and a dog squad. A search operation is also being conducted in the forested area behind the temple, as the police work to track down the culprits. Officials have expressed confidence that the suspects will be apprehended soon, based on the CCTV footage and other evidence collected.
The Tekri Sarkar Temple, located approximately 5 kilometers from the Guna district headquarters, is a site of deep spiritual significance. The temple, with its south-facing Hanuman idol, dates back to the 7th century and is perched on high hills, attracting devotees from across the region.
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