Sonepur: In a momentous occasion, the 12 stolen idols of Lord Gopalji and other deities, made of ashtadhatu (eight metals), were returned to Sonepur after 42 years. The idols, which were stolen from the Gopalji Temple in 1983, were brought back from Bhubaneswar’s Malkhana recently under tight security.
The return of the idols was celebrated with great fanfare, with District Collector Nruparaj Sahu receiving a grand welcome from the public.
According to reports, the idols are currently kept in the district treasury under 24×7 police surveillance and CCTV vigilance, as per the court orders.
It is pertinent to mention that the CBI had arrested three accused in Delhi and recovered the idols, which were then sent to Bhubaneswar’s Malkhana. The district administration, led by Collector Sahu, had worked tirelessly to bring back the idols, with Sub-Collector Dr Saumya Roopa Rath playing a key role in expediting the process.
Sahu expressed his gratitude to the public and the legal team, led by advocate Abhilash, for their efforts in bringing back the idols. The idols will be installed in the Gopalji Temple after a suitable date is fixed in consultation with the public.
The return of the idols has brought immense joy to the people of Sonepur, who had been waiting for this moment for decades.
