Khurda: In a major crackdown, police arrested four accused persons in connection with theft of idols and recovered nine idols of different gods and goddesses from their possession Saturday evening.
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According to sources, 22 idols were earlier stolen from the famous Daksha Prajapati temple of Banpur area in Khurda district.
Police have arrested four members of an inter-state racket. The four arrested were identified as Mukesh Chandra Meena alias Fauji, Kailash Meena, Manoj Kumar Meena all three from Medi area under Wazirpur police limits of Sawai Madhopur district and Chuttan of Jodli village under Sapotra police limits of Karauli district in Rajasthan.
Banpur police have seized from their possession three mobile phones, an air bag, one Aadhaar card and nine idols, Khurda Superintendent of Police Ajay Pratap Swain said at a presser here.
Notably, the four arrested often visit Odisha and steal idols. They pose as daily wagers skilled in mounting electric poles. On the intervening night of December 22 last year, the accused persons had stolen 22 idols from the Daksha Prajapati temple of Banpur in Khurda.
PNN
