Thai nationals who fled with Kabir's garland also suspected in Belur Math theft case

VARANASI: Thai persons arrested in a joint operation of UP and West Bengal police from Kshinagar, for the theft of a 600-year-old sandalwood beads garland of Kabir Das, are also suspected to be involved in the theft of holy relics of Ma Sharda from Belur Math in July.
While three of them identified as Patta Rawat alias Pele, Phurak Boon Teeranon and Phro Keratipat Talbhat were brought here to produce before the court on Saturday and sent behind bars, one Siri Chai was taken to Kolkata by WB police to interrogate in the Belur Math theft case.
On November 30 Pele along with Phurak and Phro had reached Kabir Moolgadi Math at Kabirchaura here from where they fled with the sandalwood beads garland gifted to Kabir Das by his Guru Ramanandacharya 600 years ago. The incident came to light on December 1 after which police got a clue that the three had stayed at a hotel on mall road and later reached Kolkata via Gaya. A team of UP police started working with Kolkata cops on the case.
But, before this joint team of police could trap these Thai nationals they reached Gorakhpur to escape via Nepal. However, they were caught in Kushinagar district on December 5. As one of the four Thai nationals arrested in Kushinagar was already on the radar of Howrah police for his involvement in Belur Math theft case, the WB cops returned with Siri Chai.
It's worth mentioning here that on July 16 it came to light that holy relics of Ma Sarada, including strands of her hair, teeth and rosary beads, were missing from the museum within the Belur Math premises. After the theft was detected a complaint was lodged with Bally police station in Howrah.
The other three were brought here on Saturday morning. During police investigation it also came to light that these persons had also kept the replica of a 'Khadau' (wooden footwear), purchased from Rishikesh, to keep at Kabir Math after stealing the real Khadau of Kabir Das. But, Phro, who posed as Buddhist monk, preferred to replace only the sandalwood beads garland with a duplicate garland before fleeing.
The SSP Rajesh Modak said that the Thai nationals have been sent to jail but police would try get police remand for further interrogation as they were changing their statements frequently. To know the whereabouts of the missing garland, he said, the police can also submit a plea before the court to seek permission for their narco-test.