In a brazen act of theft, several ancient and invaluable idols were stolen from the historic Ram Janki temple in Bihar's Saran district late on Sunday night. The stolen artifacts, made of precious Ashtadhatu and believed to be centuries old, include idols of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, and Lord Lakshmana, with an estimated value running into lakhs of rupees.
Method of the Temple Break-In
The criminals executed the theft with alarming precision. They gained entry into the temple premises by cutting the lock on a back door. Once inside, they proceeded to break the lock securing the main door of the sanctum sanctorum, where the primary deities were housed.
In a move that highlights their technical awareness, the thieves not only uprooted the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed for security but also took away the entire recording setup, including the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) hard disk. This deliberate act was likely an attempt to erase all video evidence and conceal their identities.
Discovery and Police Investigation
The theft was discovered on Monday morning when the temple priests arrived to perform the daily rituals. They found the sanctum violated, the idols missing, and signs of the break-in scattered around. A cutter used by the thieves and the clothes that had adorned the idols were found discarded near the temple, indicating the criminals operated with disturbing ease.
Considering the sensitivity of the crime, Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjay Kumar personally visited the site in the Mashrakh police station area to oversee the investigation. SP Kumar stated that the evidence clearly pointed to a well-planned operation.
Ongoing Search for the Culprits
The police have launched a comprehensive investigation to track down the thieves. Authorities are scanning CCTV footage from cameras in other areas and nearby roads to identify suspicious vehicles or individuals. Additionally, the local police network has activated its informers to gather any possible leads about the perpetrators.
The stolen idols, due to their antique nature and religious significance, make this a high-priority case. The investigation is actively progressing as law enforcement agencies work to recover the priceless artifacts and bring the culprits to justice.
