A day after the theft of Lod Ragunath's idol from a temple, Himachal Pradesh Police on Wednesday alerted the immigration and airport authorities and Interpol, sending out details of the stolen items. Besides, the state government also announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for giving information about the antiques.
The local police on Wednesday constituted a special investigation team to locate the stolen items, including idols of Hanuman, Narsimsha and Ganesha that were stolen from the temple, situated inside the palace in Sultanpur locality of Kullu town. The police neither ruled out the possibility of involvement of international smugglers or a gang of robbers stealing antiques and articles of archaeological significance.
Additional director general of police (Law and order) Sanjay Kundu along with inspector general (central range) PL Thakur were camping in Kullu town to oversee the investigations the case. The police released details and photographs of lord Raghunath's idol which was also forwarded to the Interpol.
"Burglary appears to be the handiwork of professional criminals, who committed the crime with great professionalism" said the ADGP.
Police investigations revealed that the gang had broken in through the temple roof-taking out the slate and then fixed a rope with a wooden plank. "They broke open the false ceiling of the temple. The burglars climbed down from the rope and decamped with 12 items and then fled the scene. The police had recovered the four-tier rope that was used by the burglars to sneak inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
{{/usCountry}}Police investigations revealed that the gang had broken in through the temple roof-taking out the slate and then fixed a rope with a wooden plank. "They broke open the false ceiling of the temple. The burglars climbed down from the rope and decamped with 12 items and then fled the scene. The police had recovered the four-tier rope that was used by the burglars to sneak inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, chief minister Virbhadra Singh had announced a reward of the Rs 10 lakh for anyone giving information about the burglary.
Expressing firm faith in the deities, the local are hopeful divine powers will help in finding the burglars.
"We are waiting for the outcome of the investigations and in case the police is unable to locate the idols we will seek CBI's intervention," Maheshwar Singh, scion of Kullu rulers, told Hindustan Times.
Maheshwar Singh, a local legislator, is also the presiding guardian of lord Raghunath.
The idol of Lord Ragunath was installed in the temple in 1637 by Jagat Sukh - the then ruler of Kullu . The idol was brought from Ayodhya.