Bhubaneswar, Nov. 16 -- In a major incident of theft, idols worth an estimated Rs 1 crore were allegedly stolen from a 500-year-old temple at Narayanapatana village under Tarasingh police limits in Ganjam district. The incident occurred at the historic Narayan Swamy Temple. Several rare and ancient idols made of 'ashtadhatu' and brass were reportedly found missing.

According to sources, the stolen idols include those of Laxmi Narayan, Radha Krishna, and several other deities that had been worshipped in the temple for centuries. The burglars allegedly broke open the temple's main lock before decamping with the valuable idols.

The theft came to light when the temple priest arrived for the morning rituals and found the locks broken and the...