Ranchi: Ahead of the Rath Yatra on July 1, tools worth Rs one lakh used for the construction of the chariot for the Jagannathpur temple here were stolen on Thursday night. An FIR was lodged on Friday but the matter came to light on Monday night.
Police on Tuesday said the tools were brought by the workers who arrived here from Puri for the construction of the chariot.
The head priest of the Jagannath temple, Thakur Shudhanshu Nath Shahdeo, lodged the FIR with the Dhurwa police station. He said, “The theft is an act of anti-social elements who want to impede the construction of the rath. The stolen items included cutters, nut bolts, wood planner, jigsaw cutter, drilling machines, paint and brushes.”
Dhurwas police station officer-in-charge Praveen Jha said, “We are investigating the matter on a priority basis.”