The theft occurred on Saturday night and was discovered on Sunday when the temple management noticed the missing jewellery and promptly reported it to the Vithalwadi police station
Ulhasnagar Police have initiated a manhunt for a newly hired security guard who stole jewellery worth several lakhs from the Kali Mata temple in Ulhasnagar. The suspect, Ramesh Thapa, allegedly fled with over 500 grams of gold jewellery, aided by an accomplice who exploited security loopholes at the temple.
The theft occurred on Saturday night and was discovered on Sunday when the temple management noticed the missing jewellery and promptly reported it to the Vithalwadi police station. A member of the temple’s management committee explained, “On Saturday night, the security guard, identified as Ramesh Thapa, fled with more than 500 gm of gold jewels. The accused are captured on CCTV cameras of the surrounding area.”
Ramesh Thapa had been hired just four days before the incident. During this short period, he gathered information about the temple’s security weaknesses and shared this with his accomplice.
According to the police, Thapa and his partner planned the theft, aware that there were no safety measures at the back of the temple. “They entered the sanctum sanctorum after breaking the back gate of the mandir in the early hours of Saturday,” said an officer. “The accused then filled his bag with the jewellery and fled. They also damaged the CCTV cameras and the DVR of the temple but CCTVs in the area captured the man.”
The Kali Mata temple, located in Kurla Camp, is a well-known place of worship frequented by many devotees. The police have formed two teams to search for Thapa and his accomplice, with the crime branch also involved in the investigation.
