Anger among the devotees due to theft in Neelkanth temple in Khajni area Unwal, gold chain and donation box missing from the statue of Mata Santoshi.

Reporter/Ramashish Tiwari (Khajni Tehsil)

Khajni/Gorakhpur. Late Saturday night, unknown thieves carried out an audacious theft in Neelkanth Temple, the main historical and faith center of Nagar Panchayat Unwal, located just 200 meters from Unwal outpost of Khajani police station area, raising questions on the security arrangements of the police. The thieves escaped with the gold chain from the neck of the statue of Mata Santoshi installed in the temple premises and the donation box of the temple. As soon as information about the incident was received when the temple opened on Sunday morning, anger spread among the devotees and a large number of people gathered in the temple premises.

As soon as information about the incident was received, Khajni police reached the spot and conducted a thorough inspection of the incident site. The police interrogated the people nearby and collected information regarding the suspicious persons. Along with scanning the footage of CCTV cameras installed nearby, the investigation has also been intensified on the basis of other technical evidence.

Local people say that as soon as the evening falls, anti-social elements start gathering in and around the temple premises. Women and devotees have to face uncomfortable situations due to open drug abuse and suspicious activities. People allege that if strict action had been taken against such elements in time, incidents like theft in the temple could have been prevented.
After the incident, there is resentment among the devotees and city residents regarding the police system. He says that theft in a major religious place located so close to the post is a big lapse in security arrangements. People have demanded regular police patrolling in the temple premises, high quality CCTV cameras, night security arrangements and strict action against anti-social elements. At present, no written complaint has been given to the police by the temple management. Police say that as soon as the complaint is received, a case will be registered and legal action will be initiated.

Khajani police station in-charge Inspector Jayant Kumar Singh said that information about theft has been received in Neelkanth temple. The police is seriously investigating all aspects. Efforts to identify the suspects are ongoing and based on the available evidence the incident will soon be revealed and the accused will be arrested.
This incident has not only hurt the faith of the devotees, but has also raised a serious question mark on the security arrangements of religious places. Now the eyes of the area residents are fixed on the police investigation and early arrest of the accused.