New Delhi: One may call it "divine intervention" or a "miracle" but residents of Taraunha in Uttar Pradesh's Chitrakoot district were in for a surprise on Monday. In a bizarre incident, the priest of an ancient Balaji temple found that 14 'ashtadhatu' idols stolen on May 9 were returned by the thieves, PTI reported.
In a letter, the thieves claimed that they were having nightmares after committing the crime and were not being able to sleep, police said on Monday.
Sixteen 'ashtadhatu' (made up of eight metals) idols, worth several crores, were stolen from the Balaji temple on the night of May 9.
"In this connection, Mahant Rambalak had lodged an FIR against unknown thieves," Station House Officer of Sadar Kotwali Karvi, Rajiv Kumar Singh, said.
On Sunday, 14 of the 16 idols were found in a sack near the residence of Mahant Rambalak under mysterious circumstances.
"Out of 16 stolen idols, 14 were found mysteriously in a sack near the residence of Mahant Rambalak," PTI quoted Singh as saying. The priest also found a letter with the sack in which thieves wrote that they were having scary dreams at night and out of fear, they were returning the idols.
All the 14 idols have been deposited in Kotwali police station and further action is being taken.
A similar incident recently came to light in Karnataka. Earlier this month, thieves had decamped with jewellery on the idol of the goddess, including a mangalsutra, from Durgamba Devi temple in Uppinahalli. However, five days later, the priest was surprised to find the stolen mangalsutra along with Rs 101 near the idol.
This is the second such incident reported at a Karnataka temple in recent weeks. Another case came to light where a thief had broken open the lock of Sri Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tavarekere. However, instead of stealing any valuables, he was caught on CCTV praying to the idol and then leaving the premises.
(With inputs from agencies)