RAIPUR: An HIV+ man in Chhattisgarh, calling his infection an “act of god”, embarked on a decade-long looting spree in Durg, stealing money from temple donation boxes to “take revenge for his fate and show god his place”. Police said he contracted the virus during a year in prison following his arrest in a 2012 assault case. The 45-year-old, arrested Thursday, has admitted to at least 10 theft cases in temples in Durg town and its outskirts. Police said he could have been involved in several more cases. They are now gathering available CCTV camera footage for verification.The latest case was reported when the accused broke the locks of a Jain temple on the outskirts of Durg town on the intervening night of Aug 23 and 24. He was picked up for interrogation the following day. Following his formal arrest, a court remanded him in 14-day judicial custody.The man told police he lost faith in god after contracting HIV. Durg SP Vijay Agrawal told TOI the accused targeted only temples since he said he wanted to “give vent to his anger at god”. The officer said, “He has shown signs of mental instability.” The man had been unemployed for a long time, and his livelihood was dependent on whatever he stole. Agrawal said the accused initially targeted temples within Durg town but widened his net after buying a two-wheeler.The accused conducted a recce of each target. He returned at night, parked his two-wheeler at a distance, changed clothes, covered his face, walked stealthily into temples, broke locks of donation boxes and emptied the cash. He avoided stealing jewellery to reduce the risk of being traced, police said. He would use lanes and bylanes to avoid CCTV cameras. Investigators added that, in several instances, he would bow in front of the idols before the theft and fold his hands while leaving.
