Man steals 100-year-old idol from UP temple, later returns it with apology letter

A feeling of guilt overwhelmed a thief who gave up a 100-year-old Ashtadhatu idol days after he stole it from a temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj as he experienced certain ‘side effects’ after committing the crime, police said on Thursday.
As it turned out, the thief left the stolen idol on the side of a highway and along with it an apology letter expressing his regret over stealing it.
According to the police, a 100-year-old Ashtadhatu idol was stolen from the Ram Janaki temple in Prayagraj’s Nawabganj on September 23. The incident was reported to the police by the temple authorities.
The priest of the temple was so traumatised by the theft that he went ahead and started an indefinite fast in protest. Exactly 10 days after the theft was reported, passersby found the idol inside a sack on the Gaughat link road of a national highway. They said the idol belonged to Swami Jai Ramdas Maharaj.
The people then took it to the Gaughat Khalsa Ashram and when the sack was opened, a letter was also found with the idol. It was written by the thief, who apologised for his deed and expressed regret over the same.
In the apology letter, the thief said, “Maharaj ji (priest), I have made a big mistake. Due to my ignorance, I stole the idol of Radha Krishna from Gaughat. Since then, I have been having bad dreams and my son’s health has also deteriorated. I have done something really very wrong for some money. I am leaving the idol apologising for my mistake. I request you to forgive me and get the idol placed back in the temple. Its shape has been changed to hide its identity. Maharaj Ji, forgive our children and accept your idol”.
After the priest got the idol back, he re-installed it in the temple.
Meanwhile, the police are now looking for the person who stole the idol. There is still no information about the thief, his identity or his whereabouts.
The police are going through the footage obtained from the CCTV cameras installed near the temple, nearby areas and the highway where the idol was found. A probe is underway as well, police added.