Even as the Hyderabad city police are struggling to get any clue in the sensational October 12 theft in Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza, thieves yet again broke into another Mahankali temple in Uppuguda area of Chatrinaka of Old City and decamped with valuables.
This is the third theft in the Old City in the last one month and second in Uppuguda. The incident led to mild tension in the area with several VHP and Bajrang Dal activists staging a dharna.
According to police, around 3 am on Sunday, some unidentified persons gained entry into the temple by breaking open the locks of the main gate and decamped with eight gram gold, half kg silver and Rs 5,000 cash from store room of the temple.
“When I was on duty last night, we received information about the theft in Mahankali temple and rushed to the spot along with the staff,’’ said south zone deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Akun Sabharwal.
A sweeper who came to clean the temple premises noticed the incident and informed the temple management. Later, the temple committee president Shankar Goud alerted the Chatrinaka police stating that theft took place in the temple.
Tension prevailed as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang dal activists reached the spot and staged a dharna in front of the temple demanding immediate arrest of the accused. They demanded proper security for all temples in the Old City to prevent thefts. Police forces rushed to the spot and dispersed them.
Based on the complaint lodged by Shankar Goud, the Chatrinaka police registered cases against the accused under section 457 (lurking house trespass) and 380 (theft) of the IPC and investigation is on.
Meanwhile, the police suspect that local persons might be involved in the theft. Senior police officials who visited the place said that there was no connection between the Lal Darwaza temple burglary and the fresh theft.
The thieves took away gold, silver and cash from the store room.
However, in the Laldarwaza incident, the robbers, apparently professionals, broke open the main door and another grilled shutter to gain entry into the temple.The Central Crime Station (CCS) police who are investigating the Lal Darwaza theft case rushed to the spot and collected some samples from the store room.
“Soon after we received the information about the theft, a team of police rushed to the spot and collected samples. These samples will help investigate the theft incidents. We will verify the reports with the evidence that was collected in connection with previous offences,’’ said the deputy commissioner of police, CCS, P J Victor.