IN A major theft, unidentified person stole around 18 Ashtadhatu idols from an ancient Jain temple in Sagauriya village under the jurisdiction of Kareli police station in Narsinghpur district during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. According to police, the accused used a cutter to break open the temple lock before entering the shrine and fleeing with several sacred idols, including those of Lord Mahavir Swami and other Jain Tirthankaras. The incident has triggered widespread outrage and concern among members of the Jain community. Soon after the theft was reported, Kareli police rushed to the spot and initiated an investigation. A dog squad and forensic experts were called in to collect evidence from the crime scene.

 

Police are also examining CCTV footage from the temple premises and nearby areas to identify the suspects and trace their movements. SHO of Kareli Police Station, Ratnakar Hingwe said that Sagauriya Jain temple is one of the region’s ancient Jain shrines. He said the burglars entered the temple after breaking the lock late at night and escaped with several small and large Ashtadhatu idols. Considering the seriousness of the case, police have constituted multiple investigation teams and are probing all possible angles. Authorities said sustained efforts are underway to identify the culprits and recover the stolen idols at the earliest. The theft has deeply upset the Jain community, which has demanded swift action against those responsible and the safe recovery of the revered idols.