Crown Gifted by PM Modi Stolen from Historic Kali Temple in Bangladesh

A crown gifted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the revered Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple in Bangladesh has been reported stolen. The crown, presented during Modi’s visit to the temple in March 2021, was taken from the temple located in Shyamnagar, Satkhira district.

The theft occurred around 2 p.m. on Thursday, shortly after the temple priest, Dilip Mukherjee, had left the premises following the day’s prayers. The disappearance was discovered by the temple’s cleaning staff, who noticed that the crown was no longer on the deity’s head, according to local media reports in Bangladesh.

Authorities have launched an investigation, with local police actively reviewing CCTV footage from the temple to identify the culprit. “We are examining the CCTV recordings to track down the individual responsible for the theft,” confirmed Inspector Taizul Islam from Shyamnagar Police Station.

The stolen crown, crafted from silver and plated with gold, held significant symbolic value, as it was presented by Prime Minister Modi during his 2021 visit to the temple. The Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, revered sites dedicated to the goddess Shakti, located across India and neighboring countries. The temple’s name, “Jeshoreshwari,” translates to the “Goddess of Jeshore,” underscoring its cultural and spiritual significance in the region.

Prime Minister Modi had placed the crown on the deity’s head during his visit as a gesture of respect and devotion.