Ancient idols, jewellery stolen from temple

Ancient gold-plated idols, silver items and some jewellery was stolen from the 600-year-old Laxminarayan temple at Bilandarpur village, 50 kms from here, in the wee hours today, police said.
No priest was present on the temple's premises when the theft took place, Amarsar Police SHO Ramroop Meena said.
Three ancient ashtadhatu (eight-metal) idols of god Narsingh, six silver "chhatra" (umbrellas), some jewellery was stolen, he said.
Irate villagers held a demonstration outside the temple demanding arrest of the culprits, he said.
A case has been registered and police have begun search operation after alerting all check posts to nab the thieves, he said.

In preliminary investigation, it was found that the priest forgot to lock the temple entrance which may have enabled the thieves to enter the temple after breaking the front gate lock, Meena said.