Shimla : Antique raiders struck at a temple in Solan, last night and have stolen two precious idols of the Salooni Goddess housed there. In two days this is the second such robbery with another one being reported from Rajgarh, a neighbouring region of Solan where an idol of a local Devta is said to have gone missing.
SR Rana, ASP Solan told My Himachal News, “there appeared to be similarities between the two robberies. Sniffer dogs were pressed into service and some clues have surfaced. A team of forensic experts have lifted finger prints and other clues left behind by the robbers,†he said.
Rana also disclosed that there were 8 idols in the temple but the only two have gone missing. Locals who revered the temple say that the idols are said to be of great antiquity. The temple is located along a road that leads to the residence of the district magistrate, says a Solan resident.
Meanwhile the police has entrusted constituted a special team headed by DIG Pradeep Kumar to investigate both the robberies. The team has inspected both the robbery sites, cases have been registered and investigations are going on, police sources said.
Photos of Shoolni Mata by Saurab Bhakri.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
Looting temples is now common. And no one take much interest in stopping this. I feel very bad about this and helplessness is a situation which is very pathetic.