Priceless Ashtadhatu Idols of Lord Ram and Sita Unearthed From Accused’s House in Gopalganj
Police unearth priceless Ram-Sita idols in marathon excavation.
In a remarkable development that has captivated authorities and the public alike, the Gopalganj police's Special Investigation Team achieved a major breakthrough by recovering two invaluable Ashtadhatu idols of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita from underground during an exhaustive 24-hour digging operation at the residence of the prime absconding accused Sharif Alam in Bihar's Arar locality.
Guided by continuous signals from advanced metal detectors and acting on precise intelligence inputs, the team executed a second thorough raid on Monday, completely securing the entire property and systematically examining every conceivable hiding spot across rooms, the courtyard, cowshed, and adjacent areas before commencing the intensive excavation.
The priceless ancient idols, originating from a separate theft at a temple in Chhapra, were discovered skillfully buried beneath layers of bricks and paving stones in an apparent attempt to obliterate evidence, accompanied by various other recovered items including jewellery, aluminum electrical wires, a sewing machine, pairs of shoes, and bars of soap suspected to be connected to the crimes.
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Four close family members of Sharif Alam—namely his wife Shabba Khatun, mother Madina Khatun, and sisters Tabbu and Sabbu—were placed under arrest following detailed interrogations that yielded critical revelations advancing the probe, after which they underwent mandatory medical checks at Sadar Hospital before being presented in court and remanded to judicial custody.
Although substantial elements of the multi-crore gold ornaments looted from the Thawe Durga Temple—particularly sections of Goddess Durga's crown, necklace, and ceremonial umbrella—remain unrecovered, Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Awadhesh Dixit affirmed ongoing intensive joint operations with the Special Task Force, expressing strong confidence in the imminent apprehension of the main accused and full restitution of the stolen sacred valuables.
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