Jain temple burgled in Bangalore, thieves flee with Rs 20 lk

A Jain temple in the city was burgled by a gang of unidentified miscreants, who decamped with nearly Rs20 lakh in the wee hours of Sunday.

The theft took place in Sri Vasupoojya Jain temple, situated on the busy Obaiah Lane, near Akkipet Main Road.

Police said the gang overpowered the guards stationed at the temple and drugged them with a sedative, rendering them unconscious. The gang then gained access to the temple and made away with gold articles and cash worth nearly Rs20 lakh.

Police said the gang in the process damaged six CCTV cameras installed at the temple premises.

The incident came to light at 5am when the temple priest Suresh Poojari arrived to perform early morning puja.

“The theft of cash and gold ornaments from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum came to light when the head priest opened the shrine for early morning rituals,” said Cottonpet sub-inspector Sunil Kumar.

“On the basis of a complaint lodged by the priest, we have registered a case under Sections 380 (theft) and 457 (trespass or breaking in) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and formed a special team to investigate the incident,” Kumar said.

The security guards are currently recovering and undergoing treatment in Victoria Hospital.

With agency inputs