Stolen ‘Ashtadhatu’ idols found near temple in Odisha’s Brahmagiri

Brahmagiri: The Ashtadhatu idols of Nrusinghanath temple stolen in January were found abandoned near the temple boundary here this morning.

The Ashtadhatu idols of lord Nrushingha and goddess Lakhsmi were spotted by few school children in a bag kept near temple at Rendha village under Brahmagiri police limits in Puri district.

The children informed about the bag to the locals, who found two 500-year-old idols made of Ashtadhatu (eight metals) inside the bag.

According to reports, few miscreants allegedly had stolen the idols along with Radha Krushna idols and Patitapaban idols made of eight metals, around 300 gram gold jewelries and 10 kg silver ornaments from the Nrusinghanath temple on January 8 night.

Police had launched probe to search for the missing idols after the complaint lodged by the temple authorities next day, but failed to trace.

However, the locals were surprised to find the idols unexpectedly near the temple this morning.