Gopalganj: Thieves broke into the Thawe Bhawani temple in Gopalganj district on Thursday, making off with a gold crown valued at Rs 51 lakh, along with necklaces, a silver canopy, and a 50 kg donation box. CCTV footage shows two masked men entering the sanctum sanctorum with the aid of a rope and ladder, one of them barefoot, and cutting locks to remove the valuables.
The theft, which occurred around midnight, was discovered when priests arrived for morning prayers. Security personnel on duty were reportedly asleep at the time. The total value of the stolen items is believed to run into crores of rupees, sparking outrage among devotees.
“This is a serious breach of trust and security,” said SP Awadhesh Dixit, who arrived at the temple shortly after the incident. “An FSL team and a dog squad have been deployed to investigate, and CCTV footage is being reviewed to identify the perpetrators.”
The stolen gold crown, weighing 251 grams, was offered to the deity by a Jharkhand businessman last year. Along with this, the thieves took several gold and silver necklaces and a silver canopy.
The Thawe Bhawani temple, more than 500 years old, is a major pilgrimage site. Legend holds that the goddess travelled from Kamakhya in Assam to Thawe in response to her devotee Rahshu’s call, stopping at three sites en route where temples now stand. The temple was formally established in 1714 by King Yuvraj Shahi Bahadur of Hathua after a victorious battle following a divine vision.
Local authorities have cordoned off the temple and called for heightened security at religious sites in the district. Devotees expressed deep shock and sorrow, with many questioning how such a high-profile site could be left so vulnerable.
