AN EIGHT-INCH idol of Lord Mahavir that was stolen from a Jain temple at the Damru Ustad Chouraha yesterday was recovered by the police this evening and the thief arrested. The police nabbed the accused while he was trying to sell the idol.
Police have been under tremendous pressure due to spate of thefts in Jain temples in the recent past. According to the police, the idol had been kept on the top floor of the three-storeyed temple, and it was found missing at around 11 am yesterday by the cleaning lady. She informed the management about the theft.
During investigations police found that the temple premises had been whitewashed a couple of days ago and on scanning the people who did the job, they zeroed in on Ajay Rajput. Ajay is alcoholic and needs money everyday for his drinks. Moreover, when police reached there for routine investigations after the theft, he had run away, which increased the suspicion.
Police also came to known from Nirmal Jain, who had donated the stolen idol some 25 years ago, that on the day the theft took place, he had seen someone wearing dark trousers and a dirty white shirt on the temple premises, and that he had never seen him before.
The police then came to know that Ajay owed Rs 600 to someone and through him put pressure on Ajay to return the money. Since Ajay did not have the money, he offered the idol in exchange and was caught red-handed by the police team.
The police then came to know that Ajay owed Rs 600 to someone and through him put pressure on Ajay to return the money. Since Ajay did not have the money, he offered the idol in exchange and was caught red-handed by the police team.