A brazen theft occurred at the revered Thawe Temple in Bihar's Gopalganj district in the early hours of Thursday, where thieves made off with a gold crown weighing approximately 500 grams, jewelry worth lakhs, and the temple's donation box. The incident has triggered public outrage and raised serious questions about security arrangements at the shrine, which is dedicated to Goddess Durga (locally known as 'Thawewali Mata').

CCTV Footage Goes Viral

As residents woke up on Thursday, videos of the theft began circulating rapidly on social media. CCTV footage retrieved from the temple premises exposed the glaring security lapses and captured the entire sequence of the crime.

The Entry: The footage shows two men waiting in a lane before using a ladder to scale the walls and reach the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum).

The Act: One thief entered wearing shoes, while the other was barefoot. They are seen cutting locks and breaking open lockers to access the valuables.

The Escape: After collecting the gold crown and jewelry, the thieves exited the premises. One video clearly shows a thief balancing the heavy donation box on his head while escaping. His accomplice followed close behind, carrying a bag slung over his back and holding an object resembling a plastic bottle. Both suspects had their faces covered with cloth to conceal their identities.

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Police Response And Internal Probe

Gopalganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Avdhesh Dixit confirmed the theft and announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to crack the case.

Official Statement: "A case has been registered, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the matter. We will soon nab the accused," SP Dixit told PTI.

Security Failure: The SP acknowledged the severity of the security breach, noting that the theft occurred despite the presence of a police post at the temple. "It's a matter of concern as the incident took place even though a police post is already there at the temple. What the police personnel were doing will also be examined," he said.

Action Promised: Dixit assured that strict action would be taken if any dereliction of duty is found on the part of the police personnel stationed there.

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