Authorities in Chhattisgarh have arrested a man responsible for a string of temple thefts in the Durg region. The perpetrator, a 45-year-old, targeted donation boxes, breaking locks and stealing the cash within. The arrest followed an investigation into the crimes.
The suspect revealed that his actions stemmed from a desire for revenge against God. He explained that he contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) while incarcerated in 2011-12 after a physical altercation. This event caused him to lose faith, leading him to target places of worship. During the police inquiry, the man admitted to committing ten thefts at temples located in and around Durg. Police are considering the possibility of other individuals being involved in the crimes. The accused would avoid touching valuable items inside the donation boxes. He also took measures to prevent identification by changing his clothes before and after each theft and parking his vehicle away from the temple grounds. The latest incident occurred at a Jain temple on August 23-24, leading to his arrest the next day. The police utilized CCTV footage and the Trinayan app during their investigation. The investigation showed that the thefts began soon after his release from prison in 2012.