Dhenkanal: A suspected thief was found trapped inside a Shiva temple in Dhenkanal district after an alleged theft attempt went wrong, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at the Baba Swapneswar Temple in Chandpur village under Parjang police limits.
According to local residents, the man had reportedly entered the shrine during the night through a narrow gap in the temple door with the intention of stealing valuables. However, after gaining entry, he was unable to find a way out and remained locked inside the temple.
With no means of escape, the man allegedly spent the night inside the shrine. The situation came to light the following morning when temple priest Bhagaban Rana arrived to perform the daily rituals and discovered the intruder inside the premises.
Startled by the unexpected sight, the priest alerted villagers, who subsequently informed the police. A team from Parjang Police Station reached the temple and took the man into custody.
Police said the identity of the detained individual has not yet been established. During questioning, he reportedly provided different names and claimed to belong to different places, raising further suspicion. Investigators are examining whether the man is mentally unstable or was involved in an attempted theft.
Temple authorities and villagers reported that several articles inside the shrine were found scattered. However, it remains unclear whether any valuables were stolen.
The incident has drawn attention as the temple was reportedly targeted by thieves about two months ago, when gold ornaments worth several lakh rupees were stolen. Police are investigating whether the detained man has any connection to that case or other thefts in the area.
Further investigation is underway.
