JUMLA, Dec 3: The Guthi [trust] committee responsible for managing the Chandannath temple of Jumla has been suspended by the District Administration Office Friday after 28 precious idols stolen from the temple earlier this week.
The district administration on Friday recommended to the Guthi Corporation to suspend the local trust committee and the temple's priest to facilitate ongoing investigations into the theft.
According to Chief District Officer (CDO) Rudra Prasad Pandit, his office recommended suspension of the trust committee and the priest on the basis of complaints against them from the district residents, who suspect the involvement of the committee and the priest in the theft.
28 idols stolen from Chandannath Temple overnight
Pandit also said that his office will make arrangement for a new priest on temporary basis.
As the patron of the local committee, the CDO has also formed an ad hoc trust committee with an officer at the district's Land Revenue Office to manage the temple for the time being.
The daily worship at the temple remains disrupted since earlier this week as the suspended priest is in police custody for investigations. Following the district adminsitration's decision to recommend suspension of the trust committee, the committee's chairman Gaurinanda Acharya resigned.
Altogether 28 idols, some of which were from the seventh century were stolen from the temple in the early hours of November 27. The temple is located just beside the district adminsitration office and a police station.
The temple had idols of various gods and goddesses, including that of Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, Sita, Gautam Buddha, among others. The biggest idol stolen was of Dattatraya.
