Post News Network
Rayagada, April 15: The miscreants looted cash from the donation box of Radhakrishna Temple of Indira Nagar here late Tuesday night after breaking the lock of main gate of the temple, according to a complaint lodged by Sunil Kumar Mishra, the president of temple’s managing committee. Police rushed to the spot with a dog squad and detained two persons of Prempahad area in this connection, IIC Kapileswar Behera said.
According to police, festivities continued till the mid night Tuesday on the occasion of celebration of Bishuba Sankranti. However, priest Santosh Kumar Samantray found the donation box broken and cash looted from it the next morning when he entered the temple premises. He informed the police immediately following which officials including IIC Behera and SDPO Y Jagannath reached the spot and started an investigation with the help of sniffer dogs and a forensic team. Two persons have been detained and further inquiry into the case is on, the IIC said.
Miscreants had earlier entered the temple of Goddess Maa Paidi Telema near Forest Office and decamped with five gold mangalsutras, a nose ring and a head gear April 3. The two theft incidents within 15 days sparked resentment in the area.
“The donation box was opened in October for the last time. Thousands of devotees had donated February 26 on the occasion of temple’s first anniversary celebration. That apart, over a thousand people contributed during the observation of Bishuba Sankranti. The funds would have been used for the development of the temple”, temple managing committee president Mishra said.
