Bihar State Religious Trust Council Orders Security Overhaul for 2,500 Temples

Patna: In response to a brazen string of high-value thefts at some of the state’s most revered shrines, the Bihar State Religious Trust Council (BSRTC) has launched a comprehensive security review of all 2,499 registered temples and mutts across Bihar.

The Council’s Chairman, Ranbir Nandan, announced on Wednesday that a state-wide meeting of temple managing committees will be convened in the second week of January 2026 to establish a new statutory security framework.

Recent Thefts That Triggered the Move

The decision follows two major incidents in mid-December that exposed significant security lapses even at sites with existing police posts:

• Thawe Bhawani Temple (Gopalganj): On December 17, thieves decamped with a gold crown and precious jewelry valued at approximately ₹1.08 crore. Police recently arrested the mastermind, a repeat offender who reportedly used YouTube and Google to scout the temple’s layout and movie-inspired tactics to execute the heist.
• Dharmnath Temple (Saran): Just 24 hours later, on December 18, thieves stole gold jewelry from the idol of Goddess Durga and two donation boxes.

“Every registered temple and mutt must now provide details of their financial resources specifically earmarked for security. While we don’t interfere in daily management, we need to know if they have the funds to protect these national treasures,” Chairman Nandan stated.

Key Highlights of the Security Plan

The BSRTC, which operates under the state’s Law Department, outlined several new initiatives:

• Fund Assessment: Temples must disclose their available funds to help the council determine where the state government needs to step in with additional security personnel.
• District Convenors: The BSRTC is nominating convenors in all 38 districts to act as liaisons between the shrines and the council.
• Cultural Mandate: Beyond security, these convenors will ensure that all registered shrines conduct monthly ‘Satyanarayan Katha’ and ‘Bhagwati Puja’ on full moon and new moon days to promote Sanatan Dharma.

Bihar’s Religious Trust Landscape