Ranchi, May 22: The police in Jharkhand’s Itkhori have achieved a significant breakthrough by recovering 24 ancient Jain Tirthankara statues, approximately 100 years old, stolen from the Shantinath Digambar Jain Temple.
Superintendent of Police Animesh Naithani reported that the police acted swiftly, unveiling the theft and apprehending the main suspect. The accused has been identified as Sandeep Singh, a resident of Sale village in the Mayurhand police area.
SP Naithani further stated that based on the suspect’s information, the police seized the valuable statues and the motorcycle used in the crime. The estimated value of these Ashtadhatu statues in the international market is around 5 million rupees.
Following the theft on May 20, an FIR was registered against unknown thieves under case number 65/2026, Section 305(D) BNS at the Itkhori police station. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, a special raid team was formed under the leadership of Itkhori police station officer Abhishek Kumar Singh.
Acting on a tip-off, the police quickly detained Sandeep Singh. During intense questioning, he confessed to his involvement in the temple theft. Subsequently, the police successfully recovered the Ashtadhatu statues and the motorcycle used in the incident.
SP Naithani revealed that Sandeep Singh has a drug addiction and committed the theft after noticing the temple’s emptiness post-evening prayers. He intended to sell the priceless statues in Delhi but was apprehended by the police. Authorities are now investigating the involvement of other potential suspects and any larger networks behind the theft.
The raid team included Itkhori police station officer Abhishek Kumar Singh, Assistant Sub-Inspector Dukhiram Mahto, and constables Om Prakash Yadav, Arjun Kumar, and Ravikant Singh.
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