Modasa Town Police arrested Vishnu Vadi, an 18-year-old accused of stealing bells from two temples in Aravalli district. Authorities recovered 26 bells and broken bell pieces, along with a motorcycle, with the total value of seized property estimated at Rs 1.10 lakh.
The thefts took place at Kiraai Mata Temple near Dadhariya village and Jagdishwar Mahadev Temple in Pahadpur village. A police night patrol spotted a suspicious bike near a temple, and the rider fled, throwing a bag containing the stolen bells. The police later traced and apprehended the accused.
According to Aravalli DSP Manoharsinh Jadeja, Vishnu Vadi sold the stolen bells as scrap. The metals in the bells, including copper and bronze, fetch good market value. Authorities described him as a professional thief with previous temple thefts registered against him.
The breakdown of recovered items is as follows:
3 bells (~15 kg) – Rs 15,000
5 bells (~7 kg) – Rs 5,000
6 bells (~1 kg) – Rs 6,000
12 bells (~500 g) – Rs 6,000
Broken bells (~28 kg) – Rs 28,000
The total estimated value of the bells is Rs 60,000. Two cases were registered in connection with the thefts: one at Modasa Town Police Station and another at Titoi Police Station.
