Bhubaneswar: Even as Durga Puja festivities gripped shrines across Odisha, thieves reportedly looted valuables, including gold and silver ornaments, from two temples in Balipatna area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
As per preliminary information, the burglars looted gold and silver ornaments, idols and other valuables from Beleswar and Duladevi temples located in Baliapatna under Khurda district late on Friday. The incident came to notice on Saturday morning.
Sources said local residents nabbed a thief who was later handed over to the police, while another managed to escape.
The priest of both the temples said he found several silver and gold ornaments, idols and other valuables missing. The ornaments had been stolen by cutting the grill locks. The thieves also tried to break open the donation box but failed, he said.
One of the thieves was captured by local residents who then handed him over to the police. Locals demanded a thorough investigation into the incident and concrete measures to prevent recurrence of such crimes.
Police personnel visited the site ant initiated an investigation into the incident. Efforts are on to apprehend those others in the crime.