Bangalore, October 21, 2013: Burglars targeted a Jain temple on Akkipet Main Road in the city early on Sunday and decamped with cash and jewellery worth Rs. 25 lakh after rendering the security guards unconscious with chloroform and damaging the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

The gang members, covering their faces with handkerchiefs and other pieces of cloth, entered the Sri Vasupujya temple, a popular Jain shrine located in the busy commercial hub of Chickpet, by breaking open the backdoor around 2.30 a.m.

They first overpowered the five security guards before sedating them with chloroform. Later, they smashed six CCTV cameras on temple premises.

After ransacking the temple by damaging the grilled gate put up at the sanctum sanctorum, they took away cash by breaking open the donation box and gold jewels adorning the idols.

The incident came to light around 5 a.m. when the priest, Suresh, came to open the temple. He was taken aback when he found the guards lying unconscious on the premises while the temple was ransacked and the jewels and cash missing.

He immediately called up the temple trustee Kantilal Jain, who, in turn, informed the Cottonpet police.

Mr. Kantilal said the robbers had taken away only currency notes in the donation box, amounting to Rs 2 lakh, leaving behind the coins.

Source: The Hindu, October 21, 2013