Situated on the Lemboiya hill and surrounded by forests, the ancient Maa Dakshineshwari Bhagwati Devi Chamunda temple in Pathalgadda block of Chatra district is a safe zone for thieves.

Despite having an annual income in several lakhs, the temple committee failed to get CCTV cameras installed, giving thieves enough opportunity to lay their hands on jewellery and cash in the donation box of the temple at least four times in recent years.

On Sunday, thieves broke into the ancient Maa Dakshineshwari Bhagwati Devi Chamunda temple and stole the silver crown and other gold ornaments on the black stone idol of Goddess Lemboiya. Temple committee members informed Pathalgadda police as soon as they came to know of the crime, and an FIR was lodged.

Temple priests admitted that during the day the temple is surrounded with people, busy with activities. But once the temple closes in the evening, no one stays here and the entire area gets deserted. Even police hardly patrol the area, seeing the tough topography of the area.

The priests said this is the reason why thieves manage to commit theft here easily. Talking about the theft which took place on Sunday, they said a new temple in place of the old one is under construction here. The grills have been installed in the window space but the ventilators are still open. The thieves had used these ventilators to get inside the temple, they added.

Devotee Bablu Singh said he was shocked to know about this theft and added that the temple committee should use the temple fund to increase security here.

Police officials said investigation is on and they are hopeful of getting success soon.

This temple attracts a large number of devotees round-the-year, not just from Jharkhand, but from Bihar and other neighbouring states.

This temple is situated on Hazaribagh-Pathalgadda road. The nearest villages namely Pathalgadda and Singhani are situated only 3 km away from here. The distance of the Lemboiya village is only 2 km away from this hill temple.

The silver crown on the deity which was stolen on Sunday. Picture by Vishvendu Jaipuriar