In a swift breakthrough, Itkhori police in Chatra district recovered a nearly 100-year-old Ashtadhatu idol stolen from a Jain temple within just two hours of the FIR being registered, arresting one accused.
The Theft Incident
The theft occurred at the Shantinath Digambar Jain Temple in Itkhori. Priest Tarachand Jain, in his complaint, stated that the incident came to light on the morning of May 20 when he arrived for prayers around 7am and found the idol missing. He had locked the temple after evening worship at approximately 7pm on May 19.
The stolen artifact, a six-inch idol of the 24 Tirthankaras made of Ashtadhatu, an alloy of eight metals, is estimated to be worth nearly Rs 50 lakh. The idol holds immense religious and cultural significance for the Jain community.
Police Action and Arrest
Following the FIR, a special team led by Itkhori police station in-charge Abhishek Kumar Singh launched a probe. Acting on intelligence inputs, the police traced the accused within hours. Chatra SP Animesh Naithany stated at a press conference on Thursday, "Within just two hours, based on intelligence inputs and a strong information network, we arrested the accused and recovered the stolen idol."
The accused, identified as Sanjeev Singh from the Mayurhand police station area, allegedly confessed to the crime. Naithany added, "He is a habitual drug user and committed the theft under the influence of cannabis."
Recovery and Investigation
Based on the accused's disclosure, police recovered the idol and seized the motorcycle used in the crime. The accused was allegedly planning to take the idol to Karol Bagh in Delhi to sell it. The swift action by the police has been widely appreciated, and further investigation is underway to determine if any other individuals were involved in the theft.
