Precious crown gifted by PM Modi to Bangldesh Kali temple stolen

A crown of goddess Kali gifted to Bangladesh by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been stolen.

According to a report by news agency ANI, which cited The Daily Star, the theft from the Jeshoreshwari temple in Satkhra's Shyamnagar took place on Thursday between 2 pm and 2.30 pm, after the temple priest left, having wrapped up the day's work.

The cleaning staff later found the crown to be missing, the publication reported, adding that cops were reviewing CCTV footage to identify the thief.

For those unaware, PM Modi had placed the crown on the head of the deity as a symbolic gesture during his visit to Bangladesh in 2021.

He had also tweeted photos and videos from his 2021 visit to India's neighbour, which showed him praying to the goddess in his first visit to any country after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apart from its diplomatic import, the crown also holds religious and cultural significance.

Further, the temple where it was stolen from is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths of Hindu mythology that are scattered across India and its neighbours.

The Jeshoreshwari temple is believed to have been built by a Brahmin named Anari in the latter half of the 12th century.

The temple, reportedly, was later renovated in the 13th century before being rebuilt by Raja Pratapaditya in the 16th century.