Rajasthan: Chasing a ‘Neelam’, youth steals 1,100-year-old idol; held after temple theft

Jaipur, June 20 (IANS) Believing that an ancient Lakshmi-Narayan idol concealed a precious Neelam (sapphire) and hidden treasure, an 18-year-old youth allegedly stole the 1,100-year-old Ashtadhatu idol from a historic temple in the Amer area in Rajasthan’s Jaipur.

After a meticulous investigation involving analysis of CCTV footage from hundreds of locations and mobile data records, police arrested the accused and recovered the stolen idol from a field where it had been concealed among crops.

According to DCP (North) Karan Sharma, police received information about the theft from the historic Thakur Lakshmi-Narayan Temple on June 5.

A case was registered at the Amer Police Station following a complaint filed by Purushottam Lal Sharma. The incident had triggered widespread anger and concern among local residents.

During the investigation, police found that the accused had been regularly visiting the temple for service-related activities over the past five to six months. He allegedly developed a belief that a valuable treasure or precious object was buried beneath the idol.

Acting on this suspicion, the accused stole the approximately two-foot-tall Ashtadhatu idol during a power outage at night. After committing the theft, he damaged the idol and concealed it in crops in his field to avoid detection.

In an attempt to divert suspicion, the accused reportedly joined local protests demanding the idol’s recovery while simultaneously monitoring police activities. Police recovered the idol based on information provided by the accused during interrogation.

Investigators discovered that he had spent several months searching online about the value of ancient idols and possible methods of selling them. The accused also suspected that the centuries-old idol contained a precious gemstone, particularly a sapphire, which further motivated the theft.

To solve the case, police examined CCTV footage from nearly 500 locations, including the temple premises and surrounding areas. Investigators also analysed BTS and Call Detail Record (CDR) data of approximately 1,000 mobile numbers.

Based on technical evidence and inputs from informants, police detained Naresh Sharma (18), a resident of Saiwadi village. During questioning, he confessed to the crime.

Eventually, Amer Police cracked the theft case involving a 1,100-year-old Lakshmi-Narayan idol stolen from an ancient temple in Saiwadi village, arrested the accused and recovered the stolen Ashtadhatu idol hidden in an agricultural field.

Police are continuing their investigation to ascertain whether any other individuals were involved in the theft and whether the accused had connections with idol-smuggling networks operating in the region.

The recovered idol, made of Ashtadhatu (an alloy of eight metals), is considered a significant religious and historical artefact, with an estimated age of around 1,100 years.

–IANS

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