Keonjhar: Miscreants have fled with cash by breaking open the donation box at the Baladevjew Temple in Keonjhar Thursday night, officials of the Town police station said here Friday.
Police have initiated a probe into the incident and interrogated the security staff deployed at the temple.
The matter came to light Friday morning when a priest came to the temple and saw the donation box broken. He informed officials of the temple administration and locals. After the Town police station was alerted, cops arrived at the spot and initiated a probe.
Though the exact amount stolen is yet to be ascertained, sources said it could be more than a lakh of rupees. They said that the donation box had not been opened since the Car Festival last year.
Nimai Charan Dash, senior lawyer and a local devotee said “As construction work is going on, the area is open. The donation box has not opened since the last Car festival. We are demanding that proper steps should be taken for the security of the temple,” Dash said.
Despite deployment of security personnel and installation of CCTV, the loot took place. The incident has raised serious questions about the safety and security of the Lord Baladevjew Temple.
PNN