A group of sadhus and priests led by the head priest of the Janaki Temple, Ramtapeshwar Das, also padlocked the office of the Guthi Sansthan on Monday. [break]
Guthi Sansthan is the responsible authority for the upkeep of temples in the country.
The protesting sadhus and priests also said the staffers of the Guthi Sansthan could be involved in making the statue to disappear. The sadhus held banners reading "Guthi Sansthan sells temples and statues of deities, people are worried".
The demonstration started Ram Chowk had passed through Tirhutiya Gachhi, District Police Office, District Administration Office, Kadam Chowk, Shiva Chowk, Janak Chowk and converged into a corner meeting at the Janaki Temple.
Das, the head priest of the Janaki Temple, said they had given the district administration a week to search for the missing statue but the administration ignored their request so they were forced to take to the streets.
After padlocking the Guthi office, which is located on the premises of Ram Temple, he warned the officials to move the office elsewhere within two days. He also threatened to set the office on fire after taking everything outside if the office is not moved within two days.
The historically important and highly revered idol was stolen around a year ago.
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