Bhubaneswar, July 8:A major theft at the historic Pashchima Shambhu Somnath Temple in Harirajpur near Jatani has triggered widespread outrage among devotees and residents, raising fresh concerns over the security of religious institutions in Odisha.

According to reports, unidentified burglars broke into the temple late Monday night and decamped with several valuable silver ornaments, including a 15-kg silver throne from the sanctum sanctorum. The thieves also fled with the temple's donation box (hundi), causing substantial financial and religious loss.

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The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed on the temple premises. The footage, which has since gone viral on social media, shows three masked men carrying away the heavy silver throne and the donation box under the cover of darkness.

Although the temple falls under the jurisdiction of the Delang police station in Puri district, it is located just 3 km from Jatani, sparking widespread concern and anger among residents and devotees.

Police teams from Delang police station, the Harirajpur police outpost, and the office of the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Pipili, rushed to the temple after receiving information and began an investigation. CCTV footage is being examined to identify and trace the accused.

The theft has once again highlighted the growing trend of serial temple burglaries across Odisha.

Senior Advocate Sanuj Kumar Mishra, Advocate Subhranshu Sekhra Jena , Advocate Prava Baliarsingh, Advocate Hara Prasad Baral, Prasan Moharathy( Ex-Sarapanch), Sanjib Baral,, Sarat Barik, Tutu Samantary and the villagers of Harirajpur have expressed serious concern over the safety and security of temples and demanded stronger surveillance and security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.