"Government provides security to some important temples. Some of these are under threat from terrorists and dacoits", Patil said.
"If temple trusts demand for providing them with license for possessing weapons, then the government will allow them for it", he added.
Security to the temples is provided on the basis of the audit conducted by the ATS, the minister said.
He said if temple trusts and people from villages are willing to undergo training from police the government is ready to provide them with it.
The move by the state government comes after a gang of robbers attacked two watchmen at Ganesh temple at Dive Agar in Raigad district and fled with an ancient 1.5 kg gold idol, estimated to be worth Rs 50 lakh. One of the watchman died in the attack.
Meanwhile, on the claims of state BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari that the four men arrested by the police in connection with the Dive Agar Ganesha idol theft belong to the 'Pardhi' community and were innocent, Patil clarified, "We have strong evidence against them and we will produce it in the court".