KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 3

People's representatives have urged Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand to launch an investigation and find the whereabouts of an idol that was stolen from Bal Kumari temple at Sunakothi of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, in Lalitpur district.

A team of people's representatives led by Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal today reached the ministry at Singha Durbar and submitted a memorandum in this regard.

'We urge an investigation and search for the stolen idol through the Central Investigation Bureau without any delay. We demand arrest and action against the thieves as per the Ancient Memorial Preservation Act, 2013,' reads the memo. 'The stealing of the idol, a source of faith and belief for the residents of Sunakothi, has threatened religion, culture and customs.'

The idol of Bal Kumari Mata dating back to the Lichhavi-era (450-750 CE) was stolen from the temple on January 22.

During the meeting, Minister Bhusal urged the home minister to intensify the search for the stolen idol while also apprising that she had inspected the incident site with the help of the local administration.

The delegation included Provincial Assembly members Ram Kaji Maharjan and Dinesh Maharjan, Guthi's main Nayomas Nanda Bahadur Maharjan and Krishna Hari Maharjan, ward 27 chair of the metropolis Babu Raja Maharjan, and ward 26 Chair of the metropolis Suresh Maharjan, among others.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 4, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.