Dhenkanal: Ornaments Worth Rs 7 Lakh Looted from Maa Mangala Temple
Unidentified miscreants looted gold and silver ornaments worth an estimated Rs 6–7 lakh from the Maa Mangala Temple at Rekula under Kamakhyanagar NAC in Dhenkanal district late Wednesday night.
The burglars also took around Rs 20,000 in cash from the temple donation box.
According to reports, two masked men broke into the shrine by cutting open the door. The theft was discovered Thursday morning when the temple priest arrived for daily rituals and found the locks broken.
Locals were immediately alerted, and a written complaint was lodged at the Kamakhyanagar police station.
This incident marks the third temple burglary in Kamakhyanagar within a week. Earlier, thieves targeted the Ram Temple in Malapura and the Radha Krishna Temple in Anantapur, following a similar late‑night break‑in pattern.
The repeated thefts have triggered strong resentment among devotees and residents, who accused police of failing to conduct regular patrolling in the area.
Police have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify the culprits. Officials assured that efforts are underway to nab those involved.
