July: Unidentified persons break open the gate of Shani temple at Hinoo Chowk in Ranchi and decamp with the cash box containing some Rs 5,000

February: Ranchi police arrest three criminals who had stolen jewels from Narsingh temple at Pee Pee Compound

January: Unknown persons decamp with jewellery worth Rs 10,000 from a temple of goddess Durga in Upper Bazaar

Thefts in Ranchi temples, coupled with the fear that they might be targeted by trouble-mongers to incite social tension, have prodded temple authorities to install CCTV cameras.

There are an estimated 250 temples in Ranchi but almost all famous ones have put up CCTV cameras.

The latest are Shani and Hanuman temples in Hinoo Chowk, which installed 10 CCTV cameras on August 18. Mahavir Mandal, which manages the affairs of the temples, put up seven cameras at Hanuman Mandir and three at Shani Mandir. Hinoo Chowk, one of Ranchi's busiest points, has roads leading to Birsa Munda Airport, Birsa Chowk and Rajendra Chowk.

"Every Tuesday and Saturday, both temples receive huge footfall. Last month, cash was stolen from the Shani temple. Devotees fear god's wrath, these criminals don't. So we fixed CCTV cameras and placed notices saying 'you are being watched'. It should make a difference," said Shani temple priest Pramod Pandey.

Ranchi's famous Jagannath Temple at Dhurwa, said to be over three centuries old, has eight CCTV cameras since 2013. "All are installed strategically. We have to be careful as the idols, jewellery and other items in this temple are of vintage value," said chief priest Brajbhushan Nath Mishra.

Lal Praveer Nath Shahdeo, whose forefathers built and managed the temple, argued eight cameras were inadequate. "It needs at least 50 CCTV cameras," he said.

The famed Pahari Mandir atop Ranchi Hill has 24 functioning CCTV cameras out of total 35. "Cameras were installed in phases since 2010. CCTV vigil has made huge difference in security," said temple management committee member Mukesh Kumar.

Sankatmochan Tyagi temple on Main Road in February added two more CCTVs, taking the number to six. Ram Mandir on Sarjana Chowk put up four CCTVs three months ago. Kali Temple on Church Road has a CCTV camera for at least two years.

Devotees welcomed the move. Mukesh Kumar, an HEC employee who daily visits the Hinoo Chowk temples, said CCTV cameras were the need of the hour. "You can't identify a criminal visiting a temple in the guise of a devotee," Kumar said. "CCTV vigil helps."

A traffic policeman at Hinoo said the temple CCTV cameras covered a large part of the area outside and made their jobs easier too.