The centuries-old Thawe Bhawani Temple in Bihar’s Gopalganj district was shaken by a major theft when thieves broke into the shrine and escaped with sacred ornaments and donations, triggering widespread outrage among devotees and a large-scale police investigation.

The incident took place late Thursday night, when miscreants targeted the sanctum sanctorum of the revered temple and carried away valuables that included a gold crown worth Rs 51 lakh, multiple necklaces, a silver canopy, and a donation locker weighing nearly 50 kilograms.

According to officials, CCTV footage later revealed that two masked men entered the temple using a rope and ladder. One of them was seen barefoot inside the sanctum, while both cut through locks to reach the idol and storage areas. The theft is believed to have occurred around midnight and came to light early the next morning when priests arrived to perform daily rituals. Security personnel deployed at the temple were reportedly asleep at the time of the incident, raising serious concerns about vigilance at the high-profile pilgrimage site.

The combined value of the stolen items is believed to run into crores of rupees, intensifying anger and disbelief among worshippers. Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Awadhesh Dixit reached the temple soon after the theft was discovered and assured swift action. “This is a serious breach of trust and security,” he said. “An FSL team and a dog squad have been deployed to investigate, and CCTV footage is being reviewed to identify the perpetrators.”

Police confirmed that the stolen gold crown weighed 251 grams and had been donated to the deity last year by a businessman from Jharkhand. In addition to the crown, several gold and silver necklaces adorning the idol and a silver canopy were also taken by the thieves. The removal of the heavy donation box further pointed to careful planning and prior knowledge of the temple’s layout.

The Thawe Bhawani Temple holds immense religious and historical importance and is believed to be more than 500 years old. It is regarded as a major Siddhpeeth and attracts devotees from across the region. According to legend, the goddess travelled from Kamakhya in Assam to Thawe after responding to the prayers of her devotee Rahshu, stopping at three places along the way where temples now stand. The present temple structure was formally established in 1714 by King Yuvraj Shahi Bahadur of Hathua following a victorious battle inspired by a divine vision. In the aftermath of the theft, local authorities cordoned off the temple premises and ordered heightened security at religious sites across the district.

Police Crack Rs 1.08 Crore Thawe Temple Robbery, Arrest Alleged Mastermind

Within days of the theft, police announced a major breakthrough, claiming to have solved the case with the arrest of the alleged mastermind behind the crime. Authorities said the total value of the stolen property was estimated at Rs 1.08 crore. The accused, identified as Deepak Rai, was arrested from Ghazipur district in Uttar Pradesh after a five-day operation involving 12 special investigation teams conducting raids across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference in Gopalganj, SP Awadhesh Dixit said investigators relied on CCTV footage, mobile phone data, and technical surveillance to trace Rai’s movements. He was detained from the Jamunia police station area of Ghazipur and later confessed during interrogation, police said. According to investigators, the theft took place on the night of December 17, when the accused entered the sanctum sanctorum and removed gold and silver necklaces from the idol of Goddess Durga, along with the crown stored in a locker. A donation box weighing about 50 kilograms was also taken, pushing the estimated loss to Rs 1.08 crore.

Police alleged that Rai carried out detailed reconnaissance of the temple days before the theft. Investigators said he searched extensively on Google and YouTube to study the shrine’s layout, security arrangements, and the ornaments used on the deity. He also reportedly watched films based on thefts to refine his methods. Data recovered from his mobile phone showed repeated online searches related to the temple and the value of gold jewellery, both before and after the crime.

Dixit described Rai as a “professional temple thief” and said he had a criminal history involving similar offences. In March 2025, Rai was arrested for a theft at the Sheetla Mata Temple in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, and was released from jail on November 13. Police said that soon after his release, he began planning another burglary and surveyed not only the Thawe temple but also a major shrine in Pune.

Investigators revealed that Rai conducted night-time reconnaissance on December 10 and 11, carefully mapping entry and exit routes. On the night of the theft, he and an accomplice allegedly accessed the temple using a rope from a house under construction behind the temple premises. Police recovered a rod cutter, clothing worn during the crime, a motorcycle, a bag allegedly used to carry the jewellery, and Rai’s mobile phone. However, the stolen ornaments were not immediately recovered, as police believe Rai handed them over to another accomplice to avoid being caught with the valuables. Authorities also initiated action against police personnel found negligent in guarding the temple, while clarifying that no member of the temple administration was implicated.

Second Accused Arrested After Shootout, Stolen Crown Pieces Recovered

As the investigation progressed, Bihar Police arrested the second accused in the case following a dramatic late-night encounter. The accused, identified as Ijmamul Alam, was nabbed on Saturday morning, December 27, after a shootout in the Jagmalwa village area of Gopalganj district. Acting on a tip-off, police surrounded Alam and his associates while they were hiding in the village. When the group realised they were trapped, they opened fire on the police team.

During the exchange, Ijmamul Alam was shot in the leg and overpowered by the officers, while his associates managed to flee under the cover of darkness. Police later identified Alam as a resident of Rajepur village under the Govindganj police station limits in East Champaran district of Bihar. During the arrest, officers recovered pieces of the stolen gold crown, which they described as crucial evidence linking him directly to the temple theft. The injured accused was initially taken to the local Sadar Hospital and later referred to Patna for advanced medical treatment.

Police confirmed that the prime accused, Deepak Rai, had already been arrested earlier and said efforts were now focused on tracking down the remaining members of the gang. The theft had sparked anger and distress among local residents and devotees, and the successive arrests have brought a measure of relief as authorities continue their efforts to recover the remaining jewellery and complete the investigation.