Rajkot: The police arrested four people and recovered the Shivling that was stolen from Bhidbhanjan Mahadev temple near Harshad Gandhavi village’s seashore a day before Mahashivratri. It has now come to light that the theft was driven by the blind faith of the mastermind’s niece, who believed that installing it at home would bring prosperity.

Ramesh, along with his nephews Manoj Makwana (19), Vanrajsinh Makwana (40), and accomplice Jagatsinh Makwana (55), orchestrated the theft with three women. After conducting multiple recces, they reached the temple in two vehicles on February 25 and stole the Shivling under the cover of darkness. Later, the accused transported it 400 km to their native village in Sabarkantha, where they installed it at home.

District SP Nitesh Pandey stated that 11 people have been named in the FIR, with four arrested and four others detained for questioning, including the woman who claimed to have had the dream.

The temple, situated near the Harsiddhi Mataji temple on the Arabian Sea shore, was found looted by the priest, who found that the Shivling and its base were missing, while all other items remained untouched. Initially, police suspected that miscreants had thrown it into the sea, as its base was found abandoned on the shore, prompting scuba divers to search for seven hours. DeshGujarat