A significant theft occurred late Thursday night at the renowned Swasti Dham Jain Temple in Jahajpur sub-division, Bhilwara district, Rajasthan. Thieves stole a roughly 1.3 kg gold halo and approximately 3 kg of silver foot ornaments from the statue of Muni Suvrathanath enshrined within the temple.
Bhilwara: The audacity of thieves has reached alarming levels; they are no longer deterred by perceived divine protection. They are brazenly targeting commercial establishments, homes, and now, religious sites, stealing valuables and jewelry worth lakhs of rupees. A major theft at the Swasti Dham Jain Temple in Jahajpur, Bhilwara district, late Thursday night (May 22nd), highlights this escalating problem and has instilled fear and anxiety among the public. The theft at a sacred site is a matter of serious concern for the community.
Theft Captured on CCTV
The entire theft was recorded by CCTV cameras installed on the temple premises. Footage shows a suspicious individual in a white shirt and blue pants entering the temple around 1:00 AM. The thief initially surveyed the area around the statue before methodically removing the gold halo from behind Muni Suvrathanath's statue. Subsequently, the thief also broke off the three-kilogram silver foot ornaments and escaped by rappelling down using a piece of cloth tied to a window.
The fact that the theft occurred despite the presence of security measures and CCTV cameras is shocking. This incident raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the security arrangements implemented by both the local administration and the temple committee.
Outrage within the Jain Community
Paras Jain, the secretary of the Swasti Dham Jain Temple committee, described the theft as an attack on the faith of the Jain community. He emphasized that this was not merely a theft of property but an act that deeply offended religious beliefs. He urged the administration to take immediate and decisive steps to strengthen security to prevent future incidents. The Jain community is deeply angered by the theft and expects b action from the government.
Police Station Officer Rajkumar Nayak stated that a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against unknown individuals based on the temple committee's complaint. Police officials have inspected the scene of the crime. Investigations are underway in neighboring areas to identify the thief using the CCTV footage. The police are making every effort to apprehend the culprits.
Historical Significance of Muni Suvrathanath's Statue
The statue of Muni Suvrathanath in the Swasti Dham Jain Temple holds significant religious and historical importance. It was discovered during an excavation at the home of a Muslim family in the Ashapur Mataji Mohalla of Jahajpur in 2013. Following the discovery, the local Jain community collectively built the Swasti Dham Temple to enshrine the statue. Since then, the temple has become a prominent center of faith and devotion for Jain followers.
Locals consider the statue's discovery a miracle. It is said that when the statue was unearthed, it was blue, later changing to green, grey, and finally black. A divine light reportedly emanated from its navel, witnessed by several villagers. The statue's significance draws large crowds of devotees to the temple.
