Police in Chhattisgarh have arrested a man who was involved in a series of temple thefts in the Durg area. The 45-year-old was apprehended after an investigation into the crimes, which involved breaking into donation boxes and stealing money. The suspect’s motive for the thefts was revealed to be a desire for revenge against God.
The individual stated that he turned to theft after contracting HIV while in jail following a fight in 2011-2012. This experience eroded his faith, and he began to target temples to express his anger. During the investigation, the accused confessed to ten thefts in temples within the Durg region. Authorities are exploring the possibility of other accomplices. The man meticulously avoided touching any jewelry inside the donation boxes. He took precautions to avoid detection, changing clothes before and after each theft to evade CCTV surveillance, and parking his vehicle at a distance from the temples. His most recent act was at a Jain temple on August 23-24, which led to his capture shortly after. The police used CCTV footage and the Trinayan app to identify and arrest the suspect. The investigation revealed that the thefts commenced shortly after his release from prison in 2012.