Nahan | Updated: July 10, 2026
A major burglary at the historic Ganesh Temple in Kotla Molar Panchayat of Sirmaur’s Sainj Dhar region has shocked devotees and raised concerns over the security of religious institutions in the district.
Thieves allegedly escaped with an 18-kg silver palanquin, cash, and gold ornaments from the temple on Thursday.
According to the temple committee, the burglars took away the silver palanquin, nearly ₹40,000 in cash offered by devotees, and a pair of gold earrings adorning the idol of Lord Ganesha.
Temple records show that the stolen silver and gold ornaments, along with the cash, had a combined purchase value of around ₹16 lakh.
However, local residents estimate that due to the rise in precious metal prices, the stolen valuables could now be worth around ₹40 lakh.
Police said the burglary appeared to have been carefully planned.
Before entering the temple, the accused allegedly cut the wires of all four CCTV cameras installed on the premises.
They also took away the digital video recorder, apparently to destroy crucial evidence.
The burglars then forced open the temple’s main entrance and an almirah before fleeing with the valuables.
The theft came to light on Thursday morning when the temple was opened for daily prayers.
The temple committee immediately informed the police, following which a team reached the spot and started an investigation.
Considering the seriousness of the case, forensic and fingerprint experts were called to examine the crime scene and collect scientific evidence.
Police are also scanning nearby areas and working on multiple leads to identify the accused.
Sirmaur Superintendent of Police Nishchint Singh Negi said the case was being investigated on multiple fronts.
He said forensic and fingerprint teams had examined the spot and expressed confidence that those involved in the theft would be identified and arrested soon.
Temple Committee president Arjun Thakur described the incident as a major blow to the faith of devotees.
He appealed to the authorities to ensure the early recovery of the stolen religious artifacts.
