The Nilgiri police arrested a 50-year-old man from Etah, Uttar Pradesh in connection with the theft of centuryold Vajra Varhi from Marichi temple of Ayodhya which occurred on 26 December last year. Following burglary of priceless idol from the temple the Balasore police were under tremendous pressure as there was a lot of discontentment among the locals as well as people of Balasore.

The accused arrested is identified as Suresh Yadav of village Dwarakapuri village under Kotwali police station limits. The IIC Nilgiri Ramesh Singh who raided the village following tip off along with his team arrested Yadav from the village. He was brought on remand and following interrogation has been forwarded to court on Tuesday.

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The stolen idol made of granite of around two and feet high was not recovered, Singh said. He further said the crime was committed on that by Yadav and four other accomplices , including a man from Banapur, Odisha, who was also arrested earlier in connection with an idol stealing case. “The gang had conducted a recee in the Ayodhya area prior to the night of the burglary.

The idol was taken to UP by the miscreants. Effort is on to nab the other culprits and recover the idol,” said Singh.