Precious Astadhatu Idols Stolen From Kendrapada Temple, Probe On

Kendrapada: In a midnight heist, unidentified miscreants struck the ancient Panchupandav temple in Deradiha village within Derabisi police limits in Kendrapada and decamped with ten Ashtadhatu idols from the shrine’s sanctum sanctorum on Saturday night.

The theft came to light when the priest, on reaching the temple, found the main door open and the lock of the sanctum sanctorum broken with idols missing the Sunday morning.

He then lodged a police complaint with Derabisi police station.

Acting on the plaint, a special team was formed and sniffer gods were pressed to probe the matter.

While a group of professional thieves is suspected to be behind the incident, the role of insiders is not ruled out.

Meanwhile, devotees of the area staged a protest in front of the temple demanding the arrest of the accused.