Interpol put on high alert after Kullu temple heist

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 10

The Himachal Pradesh Police have put Interpol on high alert after the theft of an antique idol of Lord Raghunath from Kullu town. The state government on Wednesday announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh to those providing credible clues about the robbers.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Sanjay Kundu, who is monitoring the probe by a special investigation team, said: “We are exploring all angles. Footage from CCTVs in Kullu, Bhunter, Bajaura and Manali is being analysed by experts. We are also rounding up suspects for interrogation.” DSP Suresh Chauhan, who is heading the five-member Special Investigation Team, said the theft appears to be a handiwork of professional criminals.
The robbers climbed the temple roof, took out the precise slate, fixed a rope in the wooden plank, broke open the false ceiling of the temple with some steel tool, climbed down and decamped with 12 items, said police sources.
The announcement pertaining to the reward was made by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in the Assembly in Dharamsala. “The state government was making every effort to trace the stolen idols,” he said.
The idols of Lord Raghunath and Hanuman stolen from the temple are made of “Asht Dhatu” (a composite of eight metals) and their height is approximately 3 inches and six inches, respectively.
Apart from the ancient idols, gold (1kg), silver (10 kg) — worth Rs 32 lakh — and other things were also stolen from the temple.
HLP president Maheshwar Singh, who is also the “chharibardar” (caretaker) of the presiding deity, expressed hope that the efforts of the police would yield results soon. “The theft has left people of Kullu and its surrounding areas shocked and disappointed.  But we have immense faith in the divine power of the Lord Raghunath. We are praying for the early recovery of the idols,” said Singh.
The Kullu Dussehra, a centuries old festival, is associated with Lord Raghunath, the chief deity. Police officials said in the past 15 years, at least 100 thefts had been reported from temples in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the major thefts in the past include the one at Bondra Devta Temple in Rohru last year and at Bhalei Mata Temple in Chamba.
The hill state has over 2,000 temples and monasteries that are centuries old. Of these, 60 are under the care of the ASI while 31 are with the state language, art and culture department.