Dhaka, Feb 3 (IANS) A Hindu temple was burgled in Dhaka, where thieves have struck in three other temples in the past two months.
The latest burglary took place just 23 days after a similar heist at the historic Dhakeshwari Mandir, New Age newspaper said Thursday.
Shusil Kumar Datta, secretary of Kadamtola Kali Mandir committee, said the theft took place Tuesday-Wednesday night.
The temple’s priests Manik Chakraborty and Archana Rani came to open the shrine at around 7.30 a.m. and found all the locks were broken and ornaments that adorn the idol and cash kept in the donation box had been stolen.
Nazrul Islam, a police official, said that 4.7 tolas of gold, 6 tolas of silver, 10 saris and Taka 7,000 ($100) in cash were stolen from the shrine.
Chakraborty said: ‘After several thefts occurred in different temples in the city we took special security care and bought new locks for the mandir. But despite taking all security measures, the burglars broke into the temple and took away the gold ornaments and cash.’
Thieves have earlier struck at the city’s three other temples – Dhakeshwari Mandir Jan 9, Joy Kali Temple Dec 22 and Bharoteshwari Kali Mandir Dec 1.
Hindus are Bangladesh’s largest religious minority, forming 9.2 percent of the population. There were 11.3 million Hindus as per 2001 census.
