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Ranchi/Hazaribagh, July 2: The centuries-old idol of goddess Chhinnamastika at Rajrappa, 80km from the capital in Ramgarh district, has been desecrated and robbed of its 14kg silver veil embedded with eyes of gold.
The incident has triggered a wave of resentment in the temple town and a security tizzy across the state. Police have detained two persons — Manga Manjhi and Krishna Gulgulia, both residents of Mahuadar and Sons village under Rajrappa police outpost — but the booty is yet to be recovered.
The missing veil and vandalised idol was first noticed by priest Gopal Chandra at 4am when he reached the temple for morning rituals. He said this was the first time such an incident had taken place at the temple, one of the 52 Shaktipeeths — a place of worship dedicated to Sati — in the country.
Ramgarh superintendent of police Hemant Toppo said the idol was vandalised between 10pm and 4am. “The priest closed the doors of the temple at 10pm after aarti last evening. Everything was in place then,” he pointed out.
He said eyes (on the silver veil), a garland and a few bindis, all made of gold, were missing. The criminals also tried to dismantle the idol because it is a popular belief in Rajrappa that a magic stone, which can turn iron into gold, lies beneath its pedestal.
President of Rajrappa Mandir Nyas Samiti Asim Panda said the idol had been damaged and morning rituals could not be performed at the temple. “An alternative arrangement for prayers has been made.” he said, adding that thousands seek blessings of the goddess.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, chief secretary A.K. Singh, home secretary Rajbala Verma and DGP Neyaz Ahmed have rushed to the spot along with a forensic team and a canine squad.
Governor M.O.H. Farook, who returned from New Delhi today, has sent deputy secretary, Raj Bhavan secretariat, Deepankar Panda.
Former chief minister Arjun Munda, Assembly Speaker C.P. Singh and former home minister Sudesh Mahto also visited the temple. The Sankaracharya of Puri is expected to reach tomorrow.
Police sources said the state’s borders with Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Chhattisgarh had been sealed.
The chief secretary said the idol would be rebuilt with the help of Jaipur-based sculptors Manish Mishra and Umang Mishra, and normal rituals would resume soon. He added that adequate security arrangements had been made on the temple premises.
At Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi, members of the Hindu Jagran Manch protested against the state administration’s failure to provide security to places of religious and tourist importance. Reports of similar demonstrations poured in from across the state. BJP’s state spokesperson Sanjay Seth demanded a high-level inquiry.
The Chhinnamastika temple is situated at the confluence of rivers Damodar and Bhairavi in Rajrappa. It is a popular destination for marriage and tonsure ceremonies.
