Lal Darwaza Mahankali Temple Robbed

Robbers escaped with gold and silver ornaments from the deity in Lal Darwaza Mahankali Temple, in the early hours of Wednesday. The robbers even stole the diamond bindi from the goddess' forehead, that was gifted by Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan.

The theft was discovered on Wednesday morning, when a teenager was sweeping the surroundings of the temple and discovered that the main lock had been broken. The temple priest Narasimhaiah then rushed to the spot, to discover that the gold and silver ornaments on the deity, worth several lakhs, were missing. The preist then immediately informed the Chatrinaka police.

Police officials, including the deputy commissioner of police Akun Sabharwal, reached the spot, and learnt that the burglers had broken 3 locks to enter into the Simhavahini Mahankali temple. The police estimated that the theft had taken place between 2am and 3 am on Wednesday.

A police complaint was registered by the temple committee trust chief Raju Yadav, stating that about 120 grams of gold jewellery, 4 kgs of silver ornaments and a diamond bindi were stolen.

A CLUES team and fingerprint experts visited the spot and collected around 10 fingerprints, which were sent to the Central Crime Station's Finger Print Bureau. It was then reavealed that the prints belong to 3 different persons. The Bureau is trying to find a match with fingerprints of known offenders.

The news of the theft spread like wildfire, and citizens and local BJP supporters staged a dharna on the site, protesting against the lack of police patrolling in the area. They say that this is not the first, but the second temple theft in a period of 4 days in the neighbourhood.

Police suspect that the theft could be the work of an organised gang. Prakash Sahu of Chattisgarh, known for theft at the Kanakadurga temple in Vijayawada, is the main suspect in this robbery.