CHITWAN: A statue has been stolen from Mahaboudha Monastery in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-2 of Chitwan district on Saturday night.

According to Bimala Gurung, Chairperson of the Monastery Management Committee, an unidentified group broke the lock in the gate and decamped with the three feet tall gold plated statue along with a significant amount of cash inside a donation box housed in the monastery.

The broken donation box contained cash donated by the monastery visitors for the past three years, Gurung added.

Monks visiting the monastery for morning prayers noticed the theft at around 4:00 am today and informed the police.

Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt to find those involved in the theft.