Prime accused in Odisha’s Jajpur idol theft case arrested from Agra after four years

Kendrapada: Acting on a tip-off, a special team of Odisha Police on Friday arrested from Agra the prime accused in the theft of six ‘ashtadhatu’ idols (made of eight precious metals) from the ancient Siddha Baladevjew temple in Dharmasala area of Jajpur district in 2022.Accused Vikash Yadav, who had been absconding for over three years, was produced in the local court on Saturday when his bail application was rejected. The court remanded him to judicial custody.But police are yet to recover the six stolen idols, which were stolen from the temple at Badabarisahi village under Dharmasala police station area by Yadav and other miscreants on the night of Nov 11, 2022.The IIC of Dharmasala police station, Ramakanta Nayak, said Yadav was booked under sections involving house-trespass or house-breaking by night and theft in dwelling house. Raids are on to arrest other accused, said the IIC.When such antique statues reach the international market, they become priceless, said Basudev Das, a historian from the district.Around 40 temples, Buddhist monasteries and other historic places had been burgled in the last four years in the district and its nearby areas.