31  stolen  idols seized-  four including three  from  Uttar Pradesh  arrested

 By Akshya Rout

 Jajpur,Mar 3 : Jajpur  police have claimed to have busted an   idol lifter gang  on Friday and arrested its  four    key members including three burglars from  Uttar Pradesh .  Police also recovered 31  ancient   idols from them during  raids.

All the  four  arrested idol lifters have been   identified as  Arbinda Kumar Singh      (43) , Javed  (40  ) and Bijay Sukla  (51 ) from Uttar Pradesh and Sasidhar Naik (49) of Niagiri , Balasore a local informer  Police also seized 31 stolen idols and a pistol from them.

 During investigation, we found that the accused  struck  a temple in Krushnaschandrapur village under Jenapur police station on 21st February night and looted four idols. Later they also burgled the famous Raghunathjew temple of Jajpur town and decamped with 19 rare idols. 

They also looted many idols from the famous Baladevjew temple of village Patapur under Dharmasala police station  and decamped with  the rare  idols.  We formed a special team to nab idol lifters and arrested them.. Police recovered the stolen idols from  the Raghunathjew temple and Krushnachandrapur temple and their involvement in looting idols from Baladevjew temple was proved , said the Superintendent of Police , Jajpur , Vinit Agrawal on Friday .

We have registered a case under  sections- 457 and 380 of IPC  against all the four accused persons.  Further investigation in the case is under progress and raids are being carried out to apprehend other accused persons suspected to be involved in the racket ,  added the police officer.