12th century antique idol of Tibetan saint stolen from Tawang recovered in Delhi

DCP of Delhi police crime branch Madhav Verma said that, the ancient idol was recovered from the Majnu Ka Tilla area in Delhi, which was stolen from the head Cheepa (head Lama) house in Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh and it is a high religious value in the bordering state with China.

“Delhi police had started investigation following a case FIR no 11/17 under section 457/380 of IPC was registered in Tawang police station. On June 4, information was received in ISC, crime branch that an ancient idol having high religious and spiritual value has been stolen from Tawang and the racketeers involved in the theft are trying to sell the same in grey market in the area of Manju Ka Tilla in Delhi and thereafter the idol would be smuggled to Tibet for monitory gain. Keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter, crime branch of Delhi police swung into action," a top Delhi cop said.

"On Monday, specific information was received that a couple involved in the theft of idol would come near Gurudwara Majnu Ka Tilla at around 8 am for selling the stolen idol to a prospective buyer, Immediately a team led by ACP Sanjiv Sehrawat comprising of Inspector Sunil Kumar was constituted under the supervision of undersigned and a trap was laid near ManjuKa Tilla. About 10-40 am, a couple coming from Manju Ka Tilla side and police had apprehended them,” he said.

The apprehended persons were identified as Ngawang Tsundue and his female associate Lobsang Gakey Sherpa.

Police recovered the high religious value antique idol in possession from them.

During interrogation, Ngawang revealed that, he is permanent resident of Tibet and came to India in 2009-10

“He started living in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and came in contact with the daughter of Head Cheepa of Tawang. In 2011, he married with the daughter of Head Cheepa of Tawang, but their marriage could not last and they divorced. Since then, he was having enmity with the Head Cheepafamily. He aware that, the idol of Terton Pema Lingpa, which was being kept in the house of the Head Cheepa had high religious and social value and if succeeds in stealing the samehe would get the monetory gain. He shared his planning with his live in partner Lobsang Gakey Sherpa. He went to Tawang about 10-15 days back and stole the antique idol from the house of Head Cheepa and fled to Delhi to sell it in grey market for several crore of rupees. They also trying to take the idol to Tibet for getting higher price,” the cop said.

Meanwhile, Delhi police has contacted with the Arunachal Pradesh counterpart about the recovery and arrest.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)