Ghaziabad: Three masked men broke through the Mansa Devi Temple in Muradnagar and were put to sleep with cash and jewelry worth RS 3 Lakh after holding the priest and his family in Gunpoint on Thursday.
The men took jewelry not only from idols but also belonged to the wife of Imam.
According to Imam Jaiprakash Tiwari, two people knocked on the door of the temple asking for help around 3am.
As soon as he opened the door, the duo along with other people broke into and took his two-year-old son in Gunpoint and tied his priest and his wife with a rope.
“The trio entered the temple and took cash 20,000 from the donation box.
They were determined by three silver crowns and other jewelry from idols and belonging to my wife.
The value of stolen jewelry is around Rs 3 Lakh,” he said.
About three four hours after the trio left the temple, his wife managed to free myself and then another.
“Immediately, I rolled number 112 and the Muradnagar police station team reached the place,” said Tiwari, who has lived in a temple with his wife and two children for the past years.
Residents questioned the role of the police.
“The Rawli Chowki police are located 500 meters from the temple.
Moreover, the police did not patrol at night.
The police must complete this case as soon as possible we will protest at the SSP office,” said Saurabh Thakur, a village resident.
IRAJ Raja, SP (rural), said that based on complaints by Imam, a FIR was registered with unknown people under the IPC 380 (theft) and 457 (Lurking House-Trespass or House-breaking on the Night Order to do Violations can be punished by prison).
“We are investigating crime and examining the nearest CCTV cameras.
Two teams have been formed to arrest the perpetrators,” he said.