Police in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district have successfully cracked a case of temple theft, arresting two individuals for allegedly stealing a valuable copper idol from an ancient Shiva temple. The swift police action led to the recovery of the sacred idol and uncovered a series of similar crimes in the area.
The Theft and Swift Investigation
The incident came to light on Wednesday morning when a temple sevadar (caretaker) at the historic Shiv temple in Diwal village near Pandhana reported a theft to the police. The complainant stated that a copper idol of Nagdevta (serpent deity) placed upon the Shivlinga inside the sanctum sanctorum was missing.
Acting promptly on the complaint, the Pandhana police initiated an investigation and began verifying information in the vicinity. Their efforts soon yielded a crucial lead, directing them to two suspects. The police team moved quickly and apprehended the accused individuals.
Confession and Recovery of Stolen Idol
The arrested men have been identified as Ram, also known as Dadduram, and his brother-in-law Lokesh. During interrogation, the duo confessed to their crime. They revealed that they had opened the temple door late on Tuesday night and removed the copper idol with the intention of selling it for monetary gain.
Following their confession, the police managed to recover the stolen Nagdevta idol. Furthermore, the investigation took a significant turn when the accused admitted to being involved in three additional thefts. They confessed to committing crimes at the Diwal Shiv temple on a previous occasion, at the Amalpura Shiv temple, and at a house in Taklikalan.
In one of these earlier incidents at the Amalpura temple, the suspects disclosed that they had stolen Rs 10,000 in cash.
Legal Proceedings and Custody
After completing the necessary investigative procedures, the Khandwa police presented both accused before the local court. The judicial authority examined the case and subsequently sent the duo to judicial custody. The police are likely to delve deeper into the recovered information and may investigate potential receivers of stolen religious artifacts to break any larger chain involved in such thefts.
This case highlights the vulnerability of historical and religious sites in remote areas and underscores the importance of community vigilance alongside police alertness in protecting India's cultural heritage.
