Holiday Ayo - A group of thieves return a statue they took from a Hindu temple in India. The statue was returned along with a letter. This is done because they continue to be haunted by nightmares.

The thieves have recovered 14 statues of 16 ancient items they stole from the 300-year-old Lord Balaji temple in Baranga Village, Chitrakoot District, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Within a short time of approximately six days after committing the theft, they returned the stolen goods, as well as left a confession letter, quoted from the Times of India, Sunday (22/5).

From the letter, it is known that the thief was haunted by nightmares since taking the ancient statue from the temple. In addition to admitting that they often have nightmares after stealing, the police said they also wrote an apology.

Officials from the police revealed the contents of the thief's apology contained in a letter to the public.

“We have been having nightmares ever since we committed the theft and cannot sleep, eat and live in peace. We are fed up with scary dreams and returned the 'amaanat' or (precious) statues,” the thief said in a letter.

Inspector Karvi Kotwali Rajiv Singh said of the 16 statues stolen, 14 others were returned by thieves by packing in sacks that were left mysteriously outside Mahant Ram Balak's residence.

The statue that has been returned has been identified by the imam and has been kept in Karvi Kotwali, meanwhile SHO (Station House Officer) has also formed two teams to catch the thief.

"Mahant Ram Balak Das as the priest of Balaji temple has filed a complaint stating that 16 statues have been lost, including one made of ashtadhatu (sacred material for statues) weighing around 5 kg," said Karvi Kotwali Rajiv Singh.

He continued, 3 statues of Dewa Balaji made of copper weighing about 10 kg, four statues of brass weighing about 15 kg, as well as eight other idols and silver ornaments were stolen from the temple on May 9, 2022.

For the theft incident, the police have registered the case with the FIR (First Information Report) and the unknown thief will be subject to sanctions based on article 380 IPC (theft).