Post News Network
Rayagada, Feb 6: After months of investigation, local police finally succeeded in recovering one of the two idols stolen from the Radhakrushna temple last year.
Police found the idol of Lord Krishna from a house near Raniguda farm here while the idol of Goddess Radha is still missing. They have also arrested two persons in this connection.
Addressing a press conference at the district police headquarters Friday, superintendent of police (SP) K Shiva Subramani said six persons, all natives of Rayagada town, were involved in the incident.
The SP said two of the accused identified as Yadegala Shiva alias Hadapa and Habibula Khan have been lodged in Rayagada sub-jail in connection with a dacoity case. Police arrested two more accused, K Shrinu and Fajurulla Khan, while two others, D Srikant and Bacha Israel, are still at large.
Subramani said Shrinu is undergoing treatment for tuberculosis in the district headquarters hospital.
“A finger and a part of the crown of the idol were broken by the accused and those were sent as samples to Vishakhapatnam and Bangalore for sale,” he said.
“We are conducting raids at different locations to recover the other idol and making all efforts to nab the two others,” the SP added. He also announced reward for information on the idol.
ASP L Patel, sub-divisional police officer Y Jagannath Rao and Rayagada police station IIC Kapileswar Behera were also present at the press conference.
According to reports, miscreants had stolen the idols June 8, 2013. The height of each idol was 2 ft while the weight of each was nearly 35 kg. The temple management committee had lodged a complaint with the police.