31 stolen idols seized- four including three from Uttar Pradesh arrested
By Akshya Rout
Jajpur,Mar 3 : Jajpur police have claimed to have busted an idol lifter gang on Friday and arrested its four key members including three burglars from Uttar Pradesh . Police also recovered 31 ancient idols from them during raids.
All the four arrested idol lifters have been identified as Arbinda Kumar Singh (43) , Javed (40 ) and Bijay Sukla (51 ) from Uttar Pradesh and Sasidhar Naik (49) of Niagiri , Balasore a local informer Police also seized 31 stolen idols and a pistol from them.
During investigation, we found that the accused struck a temple in Krushnaschandrapur village under Jenapur police station on 21st February night and looted four idols. Later they also burgled the famous Raghunathjew temple of Jajpur town and decamped with 19 rare idols.
They also looted many idols from the famous Baladevjew temple of village Patapur under Dharmasala police station and decamped with the rare idols. We formed a special team to nab idol lifters and arrested them.. Police recovered the stolen idols from the Raghunathjew temple and Krushnachandrapur temple and their involvement in looting idols from Baladevjew temple was proved , said the Superintendent of Police , Jajpur , Vinit Agrawal on Friday .
We have registered a case under sections- 457 and 380 of IPC against all the four accused persons. Further investigation in the case is under progress and raids are being carried out to apprehend other accused persons suspected to be involved in the racket , added the police officer.
