Kathmandu, May 11

Thefts of ancient idols is on the rise in Bhaktapur. Two Idols inside the Brahmayani Dyochhen (house of God) was stolen by unidentified persons yesterday.

The idols, including that of Bhramayani, were stolen from Taulachhen of Bhaktapur Municipality.

According to the locals, the idols might have been stolen in the night. When the priest went for worship and daily ritual today, he found the idols stolen.

The door had been broken open when he reached there.

The idols were installed on the first floor of the temple. “Two bronze idols weighed nearly five kilograms,” said priest Gopal Krishna Koju. Bhramayani is one of the most famous cultural heritages of Bhaktapur, said Culture expert Om Dhaubhadel.

Not long ago, thieves stole idols from Balkumari temple in Madhyapur Thimi.

SP Kiran Bajracharya, chief of the Metropolitan Police Range, Bhaktapur said, “It has become easier for thieves to lift statues as local people living around the temple have migrated elsewhere following the April 25 earthquake.”

She said they conducted raids at various places in connection with the incident. “We will put temples under surveillance. We will install CCTV cameras for the security of the idols,” said SP Bajracharya.

She also appealed to the locals to provide data of precious and culturally important idols to the police.