Shyamnagar (Satkhira) Representative //

The gold crown on the head of Goddess Kali has been stolen from Sri Sri Jashoreshwari temple in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira. This incident happened on Thursday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh in March 2021 visited Jashoreswari temple and put the crown on Kali’s head as a gift.

On receiving the information, police and army members reached the spot and are investigating the matter. Meanwhile, in the footage of the temple’s CCTV camera, a man of approximately 35 years entered the temple at 2:49 pm. Take off the crown in a moment while standing behind the statue of Goddess Kali and insert it into the t-shirt. The young man wearing jeans pants and a white T-shirt observed whether there was anyone around before opening the crown.

Inspector (Investigation) Fakir Taijur Rahman of Shyamnagar police station said that after receiving the information, police superintendent and senior officials reached the spot and are trying to unravel the mystery of the theft. The officers in charge of Kaliganj-Shyamnagar of the army are also investigating.

Priest Dilip Banerjee said, ‘I locked the temple before 2 pm and came home. At this time, Sevayat asked Rekha Rani to clean the garbage with the key. After 30-40 minutes, one of the visitors reported the theft of the mother’s head crown.

Rekha Rani said, ‘I unlocked the main gate of the temple and went to keep the things in the next room for cleaning. In two to three minutes I came back to get more things and realized the theft of the crown.’

Locals are blaming the priest for this incident. Swapan Mondal, a teacher of Sobhan Secondary School in Ishwaripur, said that everyone knows about the theft before 3 pm. But the priest has pressed for almost two and a half hours. Even in the beginning he refused to show even the video footage. The thief might have been identified with the help of onlookers who were present if they had a chance to watch the footage soon after the incident.

Locals said that the conflict between the two parties has been going on for a long time regarding the service post of the temple. A year ago former serviceman Charu Bala Mandal was beaten and injured. About six months ago, he was taken out of the temple and brought to Rekha Rani. Apart from this, it is said that there is a dispute between the local influential people over the ownership of the money earned by the temple.

According to Hindus, Sri Sri Jashoreswari Temple was built in Ishwaripur village, one kilometer away from Shyamnagar Upazila Sadar, centered on one of the Ekanna Peeths of Goddess Kali. Since prehistoric times, many pilgrims from home and abroad have been visiting and worshiping Goddess Kali here.