HYDERABAD: The Kukatpally police on Saturday arrested six persons, including a priest, for stealing three panchaloha idols belonging to 12th Century. Police seized the idols whose worth is `1 crore from them.
The priest K Bixapathi (75), along with B Sampath, G Shankar, Reddy Ravi, L Mallaiah and N Mallaiah--all belonging to Warangal district--were nabbed while they were allegedly trying to sell the stolen idols of Lord Chennakesava Swamy, Bhudevi and Sridevi at KPHB area here, police said.
As per investigation, Bixapathi had told other accused that the idols of the three deities at Chennakesava Swamy temple in Parlapally village of the district are very precious. He also lured them stating that these idols are worth crores of rupees in the international market. They subsequently hatched a plan to commit theft of the idols and sell them, police said.
On the advice of the priest, the accused broke open the lock of the temple on the intervening night of July 15 and 16 and stole the idols. On a tip off, Kukatpally police raided the accused who were trying to sell away the idols.
22-year-old Girl Goes Missing
Soundarya (22) went missing under suspicious circumstances in Kachiguda on Saturday. According to police, the Tilaknagar resident, went shopping and did not return.Her family searched for her in vain. Her brother Avinash lodged a police complaint. Based on the complaint, police are investigating.