Jaipur: The city police Wednesday arrested four members of an inter-state gang for stealing idols, silver canopies, and cash from a 400-year-old temple in Keshopura under the Bhankrota police station area.DCP (West) Hanuman Prasad Meena said police also recovered the stolen idols, ornaments, cash, and the truck used in the crime.Meena said the theft took place around 12.47 am on September 2, when the gang broke the glass above the temple’s main door and looted idols, silver canopies, and Rs 85,000 from a cupboard. The thieves abandoned one idol of Lord Krishna outside while fleeing with other valuables. The theft came to light when Priest Ramswaroop Sharma arrived for morning prayers.The incident triggered concern among locals since the theft coincided with Jaljhulni Ekadashi, when the deity is traditionally taken out in procession. To prevent unrest and restore public confidence, a team was formed under additional DCP (West) Alok Singhal and ACP (Bagru) Hemendra Sharma. SHO (Bhankrota) Manish Gupta and SI Surendra Singh led the field action, assisted by the District Special Team and the technical branch.Meena said they scrutinised CCTV footage from the temple, toll booths, and probable escape routes. Technical surveillance helped identify the suspects, leading to raids and the arrests of Kundan Singh (58), Anil (33), Raghuveer Singh (35), and Hakim Singh (35)—all residents of Agra district in Uttar Pradesh. The stolen idols, canopies, cash, and the truck were recovered from Bayana Road in Dausa.Preliminary interrogation revealed the accused were part of an organised gang targeting temples and homes across Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. “Further investigation is underway to identify their other associates and previous crimes,” Meena said.
4 of inter-state gang held for temple theft in Jaipur | Jaipur News
