Stolen Mahavir idol recovered in Bihar

PATNA: The 2,600-year-old idol of Lord Mahavir, stolen from a Jain temple eight days ago, was recovered near Bichhway village in Jammui district today.

The 250 kg idol, worth several crores of rupees, was recovered from a ditch along the Jammui-Sikandara Highway this morning, Superintendent of Police Jayant Kant said.

The highway is 20 kms from the village from where the idol was stolen.

The recovery was made following interrogation of five arrested persons, he said.

ADG (headquarters) Sunil Kumar said investigation is on in the theft case to seek details of the gangs involved in stealing of valuable idols.

The black stone idol at the temple, which is under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India, at Lachuar village in the same district was stolen on November 27 last.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had earlier assured Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh of its recovery and later recommended a CBI inquiry into the theft, said the state police located the idol before the central agency could take up the case.