Dacoits strike at Mumbai Jain temple, kill guard

MUMBAI - A security guard was killed and another injured after dacoits attacked a Jain temple here and decamped with jewellery worth over Rs.300,000 early Sunday, police said.

The incident took place at the famed Nandishwar Digambar Jain Temple in Borivali in northwest Mumbai around 3 a.m.

According to a police officer, seven armed dacoits barged into the temple, attacked the two security guards on duty and looted the jewellery on the temple deities.

When the security guards attempted to stop them, the dacoits hit them, resulting in the death of Devi Lal, 55.

The other security guard, Ramprasad Joshi, 30, was rushed to the Bhagwati Hospital in a serious condition.

The police have launched a manhunt for the dacoits, believed to be clad in black shirts and dark trousers.

The police are on the lookout at all the entry-exit points from Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune and Raigad to nab the culprits, the officer said.