Renuka: Only a couple of days has passed when Sanjay Kumar, Himachal Pradesh DGP has made a claim to beef up the security arrangements of temples and monasteries by introducing three-pronged strategy to curb temple thefts in the state, but recently the burglars have again targeted another historic temple of the State as they decamped with a historic idol of Shrigul Maharaj alongwith gold, silver and cash from 800-year-old Shrigul Maharaj temple in Devna area under Renuka assembly constituency of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh.
As per the information received, burglars break backside wall to enter into the temple. Shrigul Maharaj is worshipped by residents of around two dozen panchayats of the area.
Temple theft is on the rise in the state. Earlier last year burglars had stolen 10 precious idols from the Bondra Sahib temple in Rohru. However, idols were recovered later and three Nepalese national were arrested. A precious mixed metal idol of Guru Padamsambhava was also stolen from Tirasang monastery last year.
Burglars had also decamped with eleven antique Ashtdhatu idols from Chohag deity temple in Madhok village of Spiti Valley, two idols of Devi Shoolni of Solan, five antique idols of ancient Miya Ka Mandir Nahan, Keem temple near Rampur, Suryavanshi temple Kullu and sacred stone idols of Shiva and Parvati, known to be sculptured by the Pandavas during their stay in Himalayas, stolen from the temple in Jagatsukh village of Manali were among many others in a long list of precious idol theft.
