700-year-old idols cut into pieces in hope of finding gold

A gang of thieves, who stole the antique Panchaloha Idols from a temple in Alur – Hassan, broke the 700-year-old idols into multiple pieces using a gas cutter.

The gang of thieves believed these antique idols had gold hidden in them. Disappointed after they found no gold hidden in these idols, they welded it back and tried to sell it off for a whopping Rs. 2 crore. They approached a businessman in Sunkadakatte to sell the two idols, who tipped off the cops.

Police arrested three men Ravish Kumar (24) of Nelamangala, Lokesh Kumar (29) of Peenya and Lokesh (30) of Koratagere and recovered two idols of Hindu goddesses Bhoodevi and Sridevi.

Both the idols, of immense antique value, have been cut into multiple pieces and re-welded. Police investigations have revealed that two more men from Hassan, are involved in the ring and they are still in the possession of a Chennakeshava idol.

Police investigations have now established the source of the idols to a temple heist in Alur taluk of Hassan district. The gang had broken into the Chennakeshava temple in Alur in November 2014 and made away with the three Panchaloha idols of Sridevi, Bhoodevi and Chennakeshava. The idols are said to be at least 700-years-old.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Labhuram said that they had sent the idols to Arechealogical Survey of India (ASI) to ascertain its market value. He added that the thieves, in their misguided belief, had irretrievably damaged the antique idols by cutting them up.