Fatehgarh, Mar 20: Miscreants allegedly looted the newly-built Ram Temple atop the Giri-Govardhan hill at Fatehgarh in Odisha's Nayagarh district on Tuesday night.
The incident came to light when the temple's priest arrived for morning rituals on Wednesday, discovering the main door open and the donation box inside cleaned out.
Sources said, the miscreants forcibly entered the temple, vandalized the donation box, and absconded with gold, silver jewelry, and cash. The temple authorities promptly notified the Fatehgarh police, who have initiated an investigation into the matter.
Although the exact value of the stolen items remains undisclosed, it is speculated to amount to a substantial sum. Neither the temple committee nor the police have provided comments on the incident thus far.
Worth mentioning, the Ram Temple in Fatehgarh was inaugurated on January 22, coinciding with the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Perched atop the Giri-Govardhan hill, the temple is constructed using 'Baulamala' stone and stands at a height of 165 feet, situated 1,800 feet above sea level.
The significance of a Ram Temple in this district is deeply rooted in history, with Lord Govardhan being worshipped on this mountain for decades. Additionally, in 1912, during the Nabakalebar of Lord Jagannath, Lord Sudharshan's tree was acquired from Fatehgarh, inspiring the formation of the Shri Ram Seva Parishad committee by the villagers.
In a similar incident, miscreants reportedly looted a significant amount of money from the donation box at the Panchalingeswar Temple in Balasore. Police authorities have also initiated an investigation into this incident.
