New Delhi: A priest of an ancient Balaji temple in the Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh received 14 out of 16 stolen idols. According to a Police statement on Monday, May 16, 2022, the thieves confessed to experiencing nightmares and inability to sleep after stealing the idols.
Sixteen idols worth several crores, made of octo-alloy, were stolen from the temple on the night of May 09, 2022. Nearly 14 out of 16 idols were found near priest, Mahant Rambalak’s residence under mysterious circumstances.
The priest also found a letter with the sack of idols, claiming that the thieves were returning the idols out of fear and nightmares.
Station House Officer of Sadar Kotwali Karvi, Rajiv Kumar Singh, said on Monday, “Mahant Rambalak had lodged an FIR against unknown thieves in this connection. Out of 16 stolen idols, 14 were found mysteriously in a sack near the residence of Mahant Rambalak.”
A similar incident took place in Karnataka recently wherein a thief broke into the Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tavarekere. Instead of stealing valuables, the CCTV captured him praying to the deity before leaving the premises empty-handed.
The octo-alloy or ashtadhatu idols are considered sacred and pure in the Hindu tradition. The metals include gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, tin, iron, and antimony or mercury.
(Avya Mathur)