Jabalpur: In recent days, the revelation of a theft at a Jain temple in the Gada area of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, has led to the arrest of one suspect by the police. Through questioning the apprehended suspect, it has been disclosed that the thieves had hidden the stolen idols and donation boxes in a drain. However, three suspects in the case are still at large.
Notably, just four days ago, the thieves had jumped the walls of the Jain temple in Nakshatra Nagar, Shantinath Digambar Jain Mandir, and stolen two statues made of eight metals (Ashtadhatu) along with three donation boxes. The temple president, Vijay Modi, had filed a report regarding the incident. The thieves had tampered with the lock at night and left, but when he returned in the morning, the idols and donation boxes were missing.
Based on CCTV footage, the police had been actively searching for the culprits involved in the theft. ASP Priyanka Shukla revealed that the police were identifying those involved in thefts at religious places. In a similar case, Santosh Keval and Mohammad Aqeel, residents of Gada, were previously arrested. Upon interrogation, Santosh Keval initially misled the investigators but later confessed to the theft. The police conducted a search at Santosh Keval’s residence, but finding nothing, brought him to the station. Upon further intense questioning, Santosh Keval admitted to committing the theft in collaboration with his accomplices – Mohammad Aqeel, Ajay God, and Kallu. He revealed the distribution of the stolen items among them.
This incident sheds light on the diligent efforts of the police to crack down on thefts at religious sites and bring the perpetrators to justice. The confession of the arrested suspect and the ongoing search for the other three individuals involved in the Jain temple theft underscore the commitment to maintaining the sanctity of religious places and ensuring the security of their invaluable artifacts.
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