Dasarahalli near Magadi Road in Bengaluru has reportedly reported a shocking incident where four unidentified men allegedly stole a Ganesha idol placed by the roadside early in the morning.
The incident took place when the area was quiet. The accused came to the spot in a mini goods vehicle and attacked the Ganesha idol which had been placed by the roadside.
The men reportedly loaded the idol onto the vehicle and left within minutes. The CCTV camera nearby captured the whole thing, so investigators have potentially important visual evidence about what happened.
The alleged theft has worried residents since the idol had been installed as part of Ganesh Chaturthi-related religious celebrations and idols like this are often the focus for residents and local communities during festival time.
The CCTV footage will be used by police to identify the people involved and establish which vehicle was used in the alleged theft. The investigators may look for details on the car registration number, how the suspects looked (e.g. what direction they ran), where they ran from, etc.
Police are said to be investigating the incident and trying to find those responsible.
Four miscreants allegedly stole a Ganesha idol placed by the roadside at Dasarahalli near Magadi Road in Bengaluru in the early hours.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) September 8, 2026
According to reports, the men loaded the idol onto a mini goods vehicle and fled the spot within minutes.
The incident was captured on CCTV,… pic.twitter.com/rX3N62AO7G
The incident has also raised questions in residents’ minds about security around roadside religious installations. Temporary festival structures and idols are usually placed in public spaces so theft, vandalism or other forms of disturbance can occur late at night and early in the morning.
For Dasarahalli and surrounding residents, the alleged incident has been unsettling enough. That the whole operation took only a few minutes shows how quickly such thefts can happen when public installations are left unsecured.
CCTV surveillance could be particularly helpful in this case. Investigators can see if the mini goods vehicle is moving around nearby junctions and roads by cameras at those places; if it’s identified, police could use its movements to work out where the suspects went after they allegedly escaped from the scene.
Authorities may also want to see if the incident was isolated or connected to reports elsewhere in Bengaluru.
While the investigation is ongoing, residents will be on alert around community installations and religious structures put in public spaces. Local organisers may also want to review security and surveillance arrangements to prevent future incidents.
The theft of the Ganesha idol has become news because it was a religious installation and because it seemed so easy for someone to take away the idol.
As police continue their investigation, the CCTV footage could be a lead to identify the four offenders and locate the stolen idol.
We await further details (if the idol has been recovered; if suspects have been identified or arrested).
