Idols worth Rs 1.5 cr recovered

Tikamgarh, MP, June 14 (UNI) Fourteen 'ashtadhatu' images worth Rs 1.5 crore have been recovered after the arrest of seven members of an interstate idol-lifters' gang in this district's Pacher village.

''Following information that the gang was active there, yesterday's raid led to the arrest of Pappu Shyam Sahu, Bhagwandas, Akeel Khan, Rambabu Raikwar, Jhalla Ahirwar, Lalji Bagri and Rakesh Gupta. The accused hail from Satna, Rewa and Chhatarpur districts,'' Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Rai said here today.

The gang was active over the past four years. The idols recovered included those of Mahavir, Radha, Krishna and Vishnu that were stolen from temples in Uttar Pradesh's Banda and Ajaygarh, Madhya Pradesh's Panna and Satna districts.

UNI