Jain temple looted at Athwalines

SURAT, June 7: Even as the police were carrying out combing operations, the famous Jain dehrasar opposite the women8217;s police station at Athwalines was looted by unidentified persons during the early hours of Sunday. According to a police complaint, gold and silver ornaments used as decorations on the idols and valued at Rs 60,000 were taken away by the miscreants.

According to the police, the temple keys were taken by the thieves from the pujari8217;s room. The thieves then opened the temple door and escaped with five gold bands placed across the idols8217; foreheads and four silver crowns weighing a kilogramme each, the police complaint said.

Kirtikumar Shroff, a devotee, noticed the theft and informed the Athwalines police, who registered a case and are investigating. Shroff said in his complaint that he reached the dehrasar at around 5:30 am and found the valuables stolen. No arrests have been made.