And I thought miracles don't happen these days.. (fwd)

November 13, 2001

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Temple monkey leads police to stolen idol

Jatindra Dash in Bhubaneswar

A monkey played a key role in the recovery of one of two idols stolen from

the world-famous Jagannath temple in Puri, 56km from the state capital

Bhubaneswar, a local newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The idol of Madan Mohan, made of ashtadhatu, an alloy of eight metals

including gold and silver and weighing 18 kilograms, was found in a well

inside the 12th century temple complex on Monday.

Idols of Madan Mohan and Narayan, both avatars of the god Jagannath, were

stolen on Sunday, shocking Hindus who rushed to the temple town from all

parts of the state for a glimpse of the shrine. Some 30,000 devotees also

began a fast, ending it only after the recovery of one of the idols.

The Oriya language daily Dharitri reported that had it not been for a monkey

that lives in the temple complex the police would still be searching for the

Madan Mohan idol.

While police were searching the temple complex, the monkey kept raising its

paw and making sounds to attract the attention of the officer supervising

the work, the paper reported.

The officer, Ajit Das, did not take the animal seriously. But some priests

advised him to approach it. As Das walked towards the animal it again raised

its paws and pointed towards a well.

Taking the cue, the police pumped water out from the well to find the idol

at the bottom, the paper reported.

Monkeys are often in the news in Orissa, but for all the wrong reasons. Only

two days ago the same newspaper had reported an incident where a monkey had

plunged an entire town into darkness by causing a short circuit at a

powerhouse.

The entire state has been put on high alert and police are checking vehicles

and even interrogating people accused of idol smuggling in the past.

Thirteen policemen have been sacked and the four who guarded the temple

complex have been arrested.

"We suspect that the second idol may also be inside the temple premises. We

are pumping out water from all the 11 wells located inside the complex,"

state police chief N C Padhi said.

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