Varanasi, Jul 28 (IANS): After a pair of 'khadau', a traditional toe-hold wooden slipper, cast in silver for a diety disappeared from a temple in Uttar Pradesh, devotees Thursday held police and temple administration responsible for it.

The incident was reported from the Kashi Vihwanath (KV) Gyanvapi complex here, 300 km from state capital Lucknow.

The `khadau' of Lord Dhundhiraj Ganesh went missing Tuesday, temple officials said. A police complaint was lodged Wednesday.

"It's shocking and surprising if such an item associated with a deity goes missing from a high-security temple complex... We are sure it happened because of security lapses," said Utkarsh Tripathi, a devotee.

While "an inquiry is under way", police inspector B.P. Yadav told IANS, "Till now we are yet to get any breakthrough."

Last year, a silver trident went missing from the same Kashi Vishwanath complex but was recovered later.

"What is happening in the Kashi Vishwanath complex must be taken up very seriously...Though if we believe that like the trident, the Khadau will also resurface one day, the point is that how such incidents are taking place inside the temple complex," Dhruv Chandra, another devotee, told reporters.