The Hanuman temple in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Nov. 14: Silver ornaments worth over Rs 2 lakh were stolen from the Hanuman temple at Brooks Hill under Dhanupali police limit in Sambalpur today. The robbers also took away cash from the donation box of the temple.

“The burglars broke open the temple gate last night and looted the ornaments and cash from the donation box,” said police.

“I came to the temple at 4am and found that the gate was lying broken. I immediately apprised the matter to the president and secretary of the temple committee and informed the police,” said priest Harischandra Mishra.

“The goons have looted the silver ornaments of the deity. They have also stolen the small idols of Shiva and Parvati,” said the priest. However, he was not certain about the cash as it had not been counted.

Secretary of the temple committee K. Panigrahi said: “I got the information from the priest. We immediately informed the police about the loot. The superintendent of police had also visited the temple.”

Local people under the banner of the Bajrang Dal demanded action against the thieves. They blocked the road at Laxmi Talkies Chhak of the city and stopped vehicles movement for more than an hour.

“This is not the first time such an incident has happened in Sambalpur. Earlier, thieves had looted at the Kali temple along the Veer Surendra Sai Marg. A case of looting was also reported at the Samaleswari temple at Sakhipara. But, the police are yet to recover the stolen materials,” said Pradeep Bohidar, an agitator.