LONDON: Thieves have penetrated a Hindu temple in Swindon and hang out with a number of collection boxes and valuables after searching the place and damaging the holy altar.
Break-in at the Hindu Swindon Temple in Wiltshire was discovered by staff on Saturday.
Chairman of the Pradeep Temple Bhardwaj reported it to the police and to Swindon Borough Council and called for 24×7 security to be deployed immediately.
He also looked for an urgent meeting with Wiltshire police, crime commissioner and Constable head considering it was a fifth break-in at the temple.
“Thieves have broken all the doors in the temple, harming many rooms, taking thousands of pounds of cash and other expensive items,” he said.
“They also entered the main altar of the temple, where the gods were placed, and damaged the area – this was a very sanctified space and was sanctified where only the priests were allowed to enter.
This is a very concerned problem and the best sensitivity.
For all people Hinduism, not only in Swindon and in England but globally, “he said.
This will have an impact on religious sentiment of more than 10,000 people in Swindon and thousands more in the region, he said.
“This is the only Hindu temple throughout this area, regions and more, and because it has been closed for most of the last 18 months, the community is very much to continue their normal activities, especially since the main period of the Hindu festival has just begun,” he said .
“We are at the peak now in everything,” he said.
The police and forensic team spend several hours at the location.
A police spokesman Wiltshire confirmed the officer was called to the location on Saturday “After theft which was believed to have occurred the night before”.
Questions are ongoing.