Robbers loot Odisha temple

Odisha Channel Bureau Kendrapara, Dec 24: Armed criminals attacked the servitors and perpetrated a daring robbery at 200-year-old Ramachandi temple in Ramnagar village under Mahakalpada police station jurisdiction.The criminals numbering about six persons brandishing sharp weapon attacked the priests in the temple premises during midnight hours yesterday and decamped with the booty. Miscreants ran away with cash, gold, silver ornaments and other valuables of Goddess Maa Ramchandi. Unidentified criminals also broke open the hundis (donation box) and looted cash from it.The estimated value of the stolen articles including cash and jewellery would be around Rs 15 lakh, police said.As the temple priests had raised alarm, people had chased the criminals while they were fleeing from the village.As their motor bikes slipped, they were forced to leave behind two motor bikes and a cell phone.“Tracking the call details of the abandoned cell phones, the suspected criminals have been identified.We are hopeful of nabbing the culprits and making a recovery of the temple property in a day or two, said Inspector of Mahakalpada police station Padarabind Tripathy.