Panchmahal: The Panchmahal district police today arrested a person in connection with the burglary at the Mahakali temple in Pavagadh last month. The accused was arrested and the police recovered six gold necklaces and two gold-plated crowns, valued at Rs 78, which had been stolen from the temple.

The incident took place early on October 28 around 1:30 am when the intruder reached the temple by climbing the steep Pavagadh mountain and using a pipe to access the premises. It is alleged that he tried to enter through the temple door and later through a ventilation opening above the ‘garbha griha’.

The accused, Vidur Chandrasingh Vasava, of Nasarpur in Umarpada taluka of Surat district, told the police during interrogation that this was his first theft. However, the way he entered the temple with tools suggested that the operation was well planned.

District Superintendent of Police Himanshu Solanki, while explaining the incident, said that following a complaint of theft of six necklaces and two crowns, an intensive investigation was launched involving six to seven teams from LCB, SOG and other police stations in the district. Technical intelligence also supported the investigation and CCTV footage from the temple and surrounding areas was examined. While examining the footage of October 27, LCB officers became suspicious of a car with Bharuch registration.

Based on the investigation, the police arrested the accused and seized two of the stolen gold necklaces belonging to Mahakali Mataji along with other items including six gold necklaces weighing around 1 kg each and two gold plated crowns.

The incident has raised concerns as the temple is guarded by both private security personnel and state police personnel. DeshGujarat