Bhadrak: In a bizarre turn of events, two men arrested for stealing cash from Maa Bhadrakali Temple in Odisha’s Bhadrak district have claimed they encountered a supernatural presence that forced them to abandon parts of their loot and flee in panic.
According to sources, the accused, identified as Dipun Behera and Sipun Barik from Gadi Samantraypur village, were in Aharpada Maharana sahi staying with relatives to attend the popular three-day ‘Ghoda Melana’ festival at the temple. The event draws large crowds of devotees, many of whom make generous donations. Spotting the opportunity amid the festivities and noticing that CCTV cameras had been temporarily removed for repairs, the duo allegedly planned and executed the theft on Sunday night after the festival concluded.
One of the thieves reportedly scaled the boundary wall to enter the shrine, while his accomplice kept watch near the rear gate. As he broke open the lock of an almirah inside, he reportedly heard a distinct jingling of anklets and sensed a figure approaching him. The lights in the temple also flickered at the same moment, heightening his fear. Panicking, he left behind the jewellery and called out to his partner, who did not respond. He then hastily broke open the donation box (hundi), stuffed the cash into a cloth, and rushed to escape.
Upon exiting, both men allegedly saw what they described as a large figure rushing towards them, prompting a frantic flight from the premises. Some of the stolen money reportedly fell along the way as they ran.
The theft was discovered the next morning when temple trustees and priests arrived to open the shrine and found broken locks on the donation box and store room. A formal complaint was lodged on Monday by the temple trustees and the district sub-collector. Bhadrak police acted swiftly and arrested the suspects within 12 hours. The stolen cash was also recovered from them.
