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This is the shocking moment a man pretends to pray at a Hindu temple before stealing 13 silver ceremonial parasols from the shrine.
The CCTV footage shows the incident in the village of Nana Dahisara, in the Morbi District of the Indian state of Gujarat, on 31st May.
The video shows the suspect entering the Mahakali Mataji temple, pausing as though in worship, and then gathering the silver items and putting them in a rucksack before making sure the coast is clear and slipping away.
The stolen pieces are chhatras, ornamental parasols placed above a deity as a mark of honour and protection in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions.
In a temple, the chhatra is regarded as a sacred emblem of royalty and reverence, held over the image of the god or goddess.
The 13 parasols taken from the goddess Mahakali weigh roughly 400 grammes (14 oz) in total and are valued at around INR 40,000 (GBP 312).
The theft came to light the following morning, when the temple priest and devotees arrived to find the silver missing.
Temple staff lodged a formal complaint against an unknown person at the Maliya Miyana police station.
Officers are now studying the footage in an effort to identify the suspect and track him down.
The clip has since spread widely across social media, leaving local devotees stunned.
(Joe Golder/Clipzilla/NX)
Byline Journalist: Joseph Golder
Byline Sub editor: Joseph Golder
Byline Spotter: Joseph Golder
Byline Commisioning Editor: Joseph Golder
Byline Senior Writer: Joseph Golder
Byline Video Editor: Aloysius Fernandes
Byline Copychecker: Dushko Kochoski
Byline Illustrator: Dushko Kochoski
Byline News Editor: Joseph Golder
Geography: Morbi
Subject: K1, VP, Theft
T4 Editor Story Rating: 7
T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 7
T4 Total rating: 7
