Rajkot: Rajkot Rural local crime branch (LCB) cracked two temple burglary cases with the arrest of three members of a Rajasthan-based gang and the recovery of silver artefacts worth nearly Rs 3.78 lakh.The men arrested, Munglaram Angari (35), Shankar Dungsia (40) and Ruparam Bumriya (51), are part of a gang, police said. Two other suspects — Nojaram Padmaram and Lakharam Prabhuram — both from Bera in Pali district, are still at large, police added.According to investigators, thieves broke into the Mamadev temple at Bhojrajpara, under Gondal B Division police station, on the night of Sep 13 after scaling a wall. They fled with around 100 silver artefacts valued at approximately Rs 3 lakh.In the second incident, thieves targeted the Khodiyar temple in Bharudi, under Gondal Taluka police station. A complaint filed on Jan 5 stated that the burglars stole a silver crown, three large and 17 small silver artefacts, other ornaments and cash from the donation box. The total loss was estimated at Rs 1.81 lakh.Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the accused would travel to temples at night in a car, break locks and steal valuables. Acting on specific intelligence, police intercepted the suspects and recovered 158 silver artefacts weighing 2.5kg, worth Rs 3.78 lakh, along with the car used by the burglars.Further investigation is underway to trace the two absconding suspects, police said.
