Express News Service
LUCKNOW: Claiming in a letter that they had been affected by nightmares, thieves who had stolen 16 treasured idols made from Ashtadhatu (an alloy) from the Balaji temple in Chitrakoot left 14 of them close to the home of the pinnacle priest of the temple on Sunday.
In the letter, the thieves had written that they had been having nightmares after committing the crime and therefore had been returning the booty out of worry, mentioned police sources on Monday.
“On May 9, 16 Ashtadhatu idols worth several crore were stolen from the ancient Balaji temple at Taraunha. The temple priest Mahant Rambalak lodged an FIR against unknown thieves in that connection,” mentioned SHO Sadar Kotwali Karvi, Rajiv Kumar Singh.
“Of 16 stolen idols, 14 were found stuffed in a sack mysteriously lying near the residence of Mahant Rambalak at Manikpur Jawaharnagar on Sunday,” mentioned the SHO confirming that the priest additionally discovered a letter mendacity beside the sack during which thieves had written that they had been having nightmares and had been returning the idols out of worry.
As a consequence, the priest took the 14 idols to the police station for deposition and additional motion was being taken, he added.
As per the priest, all of the stolen idols had been about 300 years previous. Of the idols, 9 had been made up of Ashtadhatu, three of copper and 4 of brass. While half a dozen idols had been of Radha-Krishna, one other six had been of Shaligram (a type of Lord Vishnu). The relaxation had been of various deities, mentioned the priest. He added that the price of the idols was extra as all of them had been adorned with pure silver jewelry. The police have picked up 4 individuals on this connection and due authorized process within the case is on.