Bhubaneswar, Dec. 1 -- At least 10 temples were looted between October 2023 and March 2024 in Odisha. And, again around 10 temples were looted in the first six months (between January and June 2025) in the state. With the onset of winter this year, on November 28, another temple theft was reported in the famous Maa Churchika shrine in Jagatsinghpur.

This worrying rise in temple thefts in recent months, with incidents reported across multiple districts, suggesting what appears to be an emerging pattern. From village shrines to centuries-old temples, burglars have repeatedly targeted donation boxes, ornaments, and idols, often using similar methods such as night-time break-ins and lock-breaking.

The frequency and manner of these thefts ha...