No clues yet in statue case

SURAT, July 13: A fortnight after 30 antique statuettes, some as old as a thousand years, were stolen from a Digambar Jain Dehrasar, loca...

SURAT, July 13: A fortnight after 30 antique statuettes, some as old as a thousand years, were stolen from a Digambar Jain Dehrasar, located at Khapatia Chakla area of the walled city, the police are yet to make any significant breakthrough in the case.

On June 29, miscreants broke open eight doors leading to the room where the statues were placed and stole only the most ancient statuettes of the total 120 placed in temple, leading credence to the theory that the idols were stolen for their antique value.

Though some Jain leaders say the theft could be linked to the photography of the idols three months ago by a German woman who is married to a Jain NRI, police discount that angle. The woman had taken permission from the temple trustees before photographing the idols for her doctoral dissertation on Jainism.

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Athwa Lines police station PI Gopal Darji said, “This could be the handiwork of specialised temple burglars, who sell off the idols at throwaway prices. However, we are trying to locate the German woman.”

Darji said the woman was married to one Soni, who lives in an African country.

The police have also informed the state criminal investigation bureau and other intelligence agencies, and sent wireless messages to all airports and ports, providing details of the stolen idols.

While most of the stolen statuettes were registered with the Archaelogical Survey of India, they were made either of gold, silver or panchdhaatu (an alloy containing gold as the main metal).

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The Jain Samaj, on their part, have submitted a list of the stolen statuettes to the police in a memorandum that they handed over after a rally to criticise the burglary. Appeals were also made to elected representatives and a team of city Jain leaders are to leave for Gandhinagar to talk to the governor over the issue.

Said Dehrasar trustee, Hitendra Chudawala,“I see a definite motive behind the burglary. The monetary value of the stolen idols here is immaterial. It is the antique value and these statuettes were priceless in that sense.”

Ramesh Shah, another trustee of the Dehrasar, said,“Three things are clear. Firstly, the photography angle needs to be investigated fully. Secondly, the thief knew exactly what to take and thirdly the monetary value of the idols was not a consideration in the burglary.”

Shah, who is also a advocate at the district court, added that while the police were doing their part, specialised agencies like the CBI, CID should also be involved to check any larger conspiracy behind smuggling the antiques from temples.