A fresh wave of temple burglaries has rocked Odisha, with eight shrines looted in the Balugaon area of Khordha district on February 13. The incidents have intensified concerns over the safety of religious institutions, as nearly 20 temples have reportedly been targeted across the state over the past 20 months.
According to sources, thefts were reported from temples located in Samantarapur, Bidyadharpur, Gandhinagar and Saralapadar under Balugaon police limits. In Samantaraypur Sahi alone, the Dadhibaman, Hanuman and Thakurani temples were targeted. The miscreants allegedly broke open locks and decamped with donation boxes, gold ornaments, silver crowns and other valuables.
Loot was also reported from the Uttarayani and Kalijai temples. Priests and local residents discovered the thefts early in the morning when they arrived to open the shrines.
Trinath Mahapatra, priest of the Uttarayani temple, said he noticed broken locks around 5:30 am and found that the Goddess’s crown and jewellery had been stolen. He alleged that despite earlier precautions to remove ornaments at night, the practice was later discontinued, leading to vulnerability.
Local residents expressed anger over repeated thefts and questioned police patrolling in the region. A formal complaint has been lodged, and Balugaon police have launched an investigation. Authorities suspect that an organised racket may be behind the coordinated burglaries.
The Khordha incident is part of a troubling pattern of temple burglaries across Odisha:
February 12, 2026: Narayani, Netapur Gelabai, Bimala and Padmapada Harisahadev temples in Puri looted.
February 11, 2026: Adhangei Thakurani Temple in Solapur, Puri targeted.
January 30, 2026: Jagannath, Bimala, Lakshmi and Ram temples looted in Keonjhar.
December 28, 2025: Maa Chualia shrine in Pattamundai burgled.
November 28, 2025: High-profile theft at Maa Charchika Temple.
November 4–6, 2024: Major robbery at Tara Tarini Temple.
Several other temples in districts including Ganjam, Angul, Bhadrak, Balasore, Nuapada and Jeypore have also reported thefts involving gold ornaments, silver crowns, donation boxes and even priceless idols.
