Bhubaneswar: A juvenile was nabbed Saturday by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at the Bhubaneswar Railway station for allegedly committing a theft from a locker inside the Suara and Mahasuara Niyoga office on the premises of the Jagannath Temple at Puri. Police found
Rs 20,000 in cash with the youngster after his arrest. The theft was committed Wednesday night.
The youngster attracted attention as he had been wandering inside the station premises aimlessly for the last two day. Seeing his suspicious behaviour, the GRP picked him up for questioning. It was then that the boy confessed about the theft he committed with two other accomplices. He also informed the GRP personnel that he had lost touch with his friends and they had vanished after the act. A hunt has been launched for the two who are at large. Later the GRP handed the boy over to personnel of the Puri Singhadwara Police station.
Frequent incidents of burglary on Srimandir premises here have raised a question on security arrangements at the 12th century shrine.
Though Odisha police, Jagannath Temple Police Service (JTPS) and members of a special squad are guarding Srimandir round the clock, at least two incidents of burglary have been reported from the shrine premises recently.
Some miscreants, including the minor boy, stole around Rs 1 lakh from the office of Suar-Mahasuar Niyog near Koili Baikuntha on Sriamandir premises Wednesday night.
The miscreants entered into the office building by making a hole on the wall. They stole the money after breaking open a locker at the office.
Police examined the CCTV footage and had claimed that a minor boy had stolen money from the Suar and Mahasuar Niyog office.
Notably, some miscreants had stolen money from a donation box at Ram Mandir on Srimandir premises on the night of April 1. They had also vandalised a marble idol of Lord Krishna. Police had registered a case but they are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the incident.
Srimandir Managing Committee member Anant Tiadi expressed concern over the two incidents and alleged that the police have failed to arrange proper security at the shrine.
According to Puri district superintendent of police (SP) Umashankar Dash, the district police have planned to initiate night patrolling on the temple premises to check incidents of burglary. “We would consult the temple administration. Steps would be taken to beef up security around the shrine,” Dash said.
It is learnt that the district police and the SJTA would take steps to keep the temple surroundings clean and free from any temporary structures.