Noida: Residents go on protest march to demand recovery of stolen idols

The six idols of octal metal were stolen from the temple situated in Sector Beta-2, opposite the Kasna police station, on the intervening night of October 18 and 19.

Around 10 days after the theft of six idols from Shri Digamber Jain Temple in Greater Noida, residents on Sunday carried out a protest march from Sector Beta-2 to Alpha-1 and demanded that the police make an immediate recovery.

The protesters, around 300 in number, were holding placards and had tied black ribbons on their arms

The six idols of octal metal were stolen from the temple situated in Sector Beta-2, opposite the Kasna police station, on the intervening night of October 18 and 19. A complaint was lodged with the police and a case of theft was registered.

The height of four idols was 11 inches and two idols were 9 inches. Locals estimated the market value of the idols around Rs15 lakh. On Sunday, members of the Jain community from Bulandshahr, Noida and Greater Noida along with other residents staged a protest outside the temple and carried out a silent march to Alpha-1 intersection.

The protesters, around 300 in number, were holding placards and had tied black ribbons on their arms. They said that the police should work on it immediately as 10 days have passed but no development has taken place.

He said, “We want the police to swing into action at the earliest. Those who involved in the crime should be arrested and stolen idols should be recovered from them.”

He said that the incident took place in the night and the devotees had spotted that the idols were missing from the temple. The caretaker Pundit Vipin, 55, was sleeping in the room next to the temple and following day when people came to pay obeisance, they found the door damaged. Later they discovered that six idols, including those of Lord Mahavir, Adi Nath, Shanti Nath were also missing.

Station house officer of Kasna police station, Jitender Kumar, said that a team of officers had already visited the temple after they received information. A team of police officers had reached the spot to collect the evidence but could not get any lead in the matter.

There was no CCTV camera installed on the temple premises either, he said. “A team is already working on it and we are hopeful of arresting the criminals soon,” said Kumar.