Unknown miscreants targeted a Jain temple located in Tejpur village under the jurisdiction of the Sadar police station area in Banswara district during the night. The perpetrators broke the temple locks, entered the premises, and decamped with the main Ashtadhatu idols of Lord Parshwanath and Lord Shantinath along with several other valuable religious items. The incident came to light on Monday morning, triggering panic and deep anger among members of the Jain community. Upon receiving the information, the Sadar police station team promptly rushed to the spot and initiated evidence collection procedures from the crime scene.
Timing and Lack of Surveillance Exploited
Pradeep Jain, associated with the temple, shared that he had returned home from the temple on Sunday night at around 10:30 PM, and at that time, all the locks of the temple were intact and secure. When he arrived at the temple again on Monday morning at around 6:30 AM, he found the locks of the main entrance broken. Upon stepping inside the temple, he noticed that the belongings were scattered and multiple religious idols along with other items were missing.
Ashtadhatu Idols and Throne Stolen
According to Pradeep Jain, the thieves made away with two main Ashtadhatu idols of Lord Parshwanath and Lord Shantinath. Furthermore, the culprits did not spare the Ashtadhatu idols of Kshetrapal and Goddess Padmavati, each weighing approximately two kilograms. The temple's Ashtadhatu throne, umbrellas, and other precious religious articles were also stolen during the incident. The total financial value of the stolen goods is currently being assessed by the police and the temple management.
Lack of CCTV Cameras and Police Investigation
It has been noted that the Jain temple in Tejpur village is situated at some distance from the main residential population area. Moreover, no CCTV cameras were installed within the temple premises. Consequently, it is suspected that the thieves took advantage of the weak security setup and the low movement of people around the temple during the night hours. Following the incident, the local police inspected the surrounding areas, collected necessary evidence, and are gathering information on potential suspects and entry or exit routes. Authorities stated that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the unknown culprits soon, while the Jain community has demanded enhanced security arrangements and the installation of CCTV cameras at temples.
