Youth arrested for pickpocketing at Banke Bihari Temple

A shocking incident unfolded amidst devotion and security at the world-famous Thakur Banke Bihari Temple, leaving everyone stunned.

A suspicious young man was caught red-handed pickpocketing devotees near Gate Number 2 of the temple. His attempt to conceal his identity and the subsequent revelation of his true identity created tension and panic on the temple premises.

Advertisement

A video of the entire incident is rapidly going viral on social media.

A large crowd of devotees had gathered at the temple for darshan of Banke Bihari Ji. Taking advantage of the crowd, a young man stole a wallet from a devotee’s pocket. An alert devotee immediately caught the young man’s hand and raised an alarm. Those present were shocked to see that the accused had applied a tilak (religious mark) on his forehead and was completely disguised as a Hindu devotee to avoid being identified in the crowd.

When the police arrived and took the accused into custody for questioning, he continued to mislead them to conceal his identity. However, after rigorous questioning and a search, his Aadhaar card revealed his true identity. The accused was identified as Ikhlaq, son of Iqbal, a resident of Mandiram Das, Govind Nagar, Mathura.

Committing a theft inside the temple premises in disguise raises serious questions about the security system.

The police recovered a knife, a phone, a driver’s licence, a debit card, a global card, an Aadhaar card, and ₹500 from Ikhlaq.

This incident has caused deep anger among devotees and local residents in Braj. Devotees say that the entry of anti-social elements into the sacred temple premises while concealing their identity is a major security breach. They demanded mandatory ID checks for suspected individuals at the temple entrances, the deployment of plainclothes “anti-pickpocket” squads similar to “anti-Romeo” squads, and an increase in the number of CCTV cameras in crowded areas.

The Vrindavan Kotwali police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of theft and fraud and have sent him to jail. The police are now investigating whether he is part of a larger gang that targets temples during festivals and periods of heavy crowds by disguising themselves. The administration has urged devotees to remain vigilant about their valuables.