Ayodhya Ram Temple offering theft sparks outcry from Pandit Dhirendra Shastri

A theft of devotional offerings (chaddava) from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has triggered widespread anger. Eight suspects, including a man identified as Ramshankar Yadav alias Tinn, were arrested and placed in Faizabad jail, with a court hearing scheduled for Monday.

During a religious program in Jakarta, Pandit Dhirendra Shastri, head priest of Bageshwar Dham, condemned the heist, likening the thieves to the mythic figure Ravana and saying they have stolen the faith and trust of millions of devotees. He called for a thorough investigation, noting that an FIR has been filed and that further culprits may be uncovered. Shastri urged that the perpetrators face both legal and divine punishment.