Nagpur: In a troubling trend, temples across Nagpur are increasingly becoming soft targets for burglars, with three theft attempts reported within a month. The latest incident occurred at Danteshwari Temple in Bajaj Nagar, where two individuals were caught attempting to steal from the donation box.
On Thursday, March 27, around 3:00 PM, complainant Pankaj Vilasrao Maske (39) spotted two men trying to break into the donation box. Reacting swiftly, he locked the temple’s main gate and alerted the Bajaj Nagar Police.
The suspects, identified as Manthan Hansraj Phulzhele (22) and Manish Dharam Balgawani (22), both residents of Balaji Nagar, Manewada Road, were apprehended on the spot. An FIR under Sections 305(3) and 62 of the BNS has been registered against them, and further investigations are underway.
Series of Temple Burglaries Raises Security Concerns:
This is not the first case of temple theft in Nagpur this month. Earlier, on March 4, two unidentified miscreants broke into a Shiv Mandir in Gittikhadan and stole cash and valuables. The incident, which was captured on CCTV, has deeply upset devotees, prompting them to lodge a complaint with Gittikhadan Police.
A more alarming case took place at Shri Shitalnath Digambar Jain Temple in Juni Shukrawari, where burglars managed to steal five silver idols, 12 thrones, a silver umbrella, and ₹2 lakh in cash from the donation box. Notably, the thief selectively took only high-denomination notes, indicating that the crime was carefully planned.
Are Nagpur’s Temples Easy Targets for Thieves?
The growing pattern of temple thefts has raised concerns among devotees and authorities alike. Many believe that the lack of surveillance and proper security measures makes these religious sites vulnerable to such crimes. The police are urging temple managements to install CCTV cameras and improve security to prevent further incidents.
As investigations into these cases continue, authorities are emphasizing the need for heightened security at religious sites to safeguard the sanctity and assets of temples across Nagpur.
