In a significant breakthrough, the Buxar police successfully recovered two massive and highly valuable white sandalwood logs on Sunday. The logs, with an estimated market value exceeding ₹1 crore, had been stolen from the sacred premises of the Nath Baba Temple.
Swift Police Action Thwarts Smuggling Plot
The theft occurred on the night of December 22 under the jurisdiction of the Town police station. Acting promptly on a crucial tip-off, Town Station House Officer (SHO) Manoj Kumar Singh spearheaded a targeted operation. Investigations uncovered that the thieves, in a bid to avoid detection, had hidden the precious logs by submerging them in the waters of the Ganga river near Jamuna Ghat.
After conducting an extensive search of the area, the police team managed to locate and retrieve both sandalwood logs from the river. The recovery operation marks a critical success in what appears to be a carefully orchestrated crime.
Temple Theft Sparks Outrage and Security Concerns
The criminal act involved the felling of two mature sandalwood trees from within the temple complex, an incident that has sent shockwaves through the local community. Devotees expressed profound anguish and distress, emphasizing that these trees were not just vegetation but an integral part of the temple's identity and the faith of its visitors.
The incident has also raised serious questions about security, given that the official residence of Buxar Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Avinash Kumar is situated close to the temple premises. The audacity of the theft, so near to a senior police official's home, has amplified concerns among residents and temple authorities alike.
Police Vow to Nab Entire Gang
Commenting on the sophisticated nature of the crime, Buxar SDPO Gaurav Pandey stated that the theft was "well-planned." However, he credited swift and decisive police action for thwarting the attempt to smuggle the expensive sandalwood logs out of the area.
"Raids are currently underway across multiple locations, and we are confident that the entire gang involved in this theft will be exposed soon. The culprits will not be spared," asserted SDPO Pandey. The police are now focusing their efforts on tracking down and arresting all individuals connected to the high-value theft, hoping to bring them to justice promptly.
