Sambalpur: Second Major Theft in Sambalpur Within a Week; Maharashtra Pilgrim’s Car Broken Into Near Maa Samaleswari Temple, Rs. 30,000 Cash & Valuables Stolen
Theft in Broad Daylight at VIP Gate
Sambalpur: A senior pilgrim from Maharashtra fell victim to a theft today near the VIP gate of Maa Samaleswari Temple. According to the complaint filed at Khetrajpur police station, Ashok Padur Thanthri (63), a resident of Pune, Maharashtra, arrived at the temple with his family on Friday afternoon for darshan. He parked his car near the VIP gate and entered the temple. However, upon returning, he discovered that thieves had broken the car window and stolen valuable items.
What Was Stolen?
The stolen items included Rs. 30,000 in cash, a laptop, the car’s RC book, ATM cards, clothes, glasses, and other valuables. Upon realizing the theft, he immediately informed the police.
CCTV Footage Reveals the Culprit
The police checked the CCTV footage from the temple premises and other sources. The footage showed a thief arriving on a bike, wearing a helmet. He broke the car window, stole the items, and escaped quickly. Based on the evidence, the police have registered a case and are currently investigating the incident.
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Security Lapse at a Sensitive Location
What has shocked everyone is that such a daring theft occurred in broad daylight at a sensitive location like Maa Samaleswari Temple. Despite the presence of a police outpost and security personnel, the crime went unnoticed.
Recurring Incidents Raise Concerns
This is not the first time such an incident has happened in Sambalpur. On the 24th of last month, during the visit of Sambalpur MP and Union Minister, another daylight robbery took place. A senior couple was robbed of Rs. 3.5 lakh in cash and gold ornaments. Even after so many days, the police have not made any significant progress in that case either.
Demand for Improved Police Vigilance
The frequent occurrence of such crimes has raised serious questions about the efficiency of Sambalpur police. Many locals are now demanding that the Superintendent of Police (SP) personally intervene to improve security measures and prevent further crimes in the area.
