Udupi: A Panchaloha (five metal alloy) idol of Lord Krishna in the posture of playing the flute was found under Bellampally bridge on the night of August 31. Bellapamlly bridge has been built across river Swarna at Bellampally.
According to reports, at around 8 pm on August 31, some youngsters, who were fishing along the banks of Swarna river in Udupi, saw shining object below the bridge. Out of curiosity, one of the teens named Ritesh plunged into the river and brought out the idol of Lord Krishna. The locals and the boys informed the Hiriyadka police about the statue. The idol is currently kept at the station and police have initiated a probe.
Police said they could not immediately ascertain if the idol was stolen and was later dumped in the river.
Some historians are of the view that the idol of the deity is not old and someone might have abandoned it after keeping it at home for some time.
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Praveen Shetty Bellampally, president of Bellampally Bhootaraja shrine, said that the idol weighs around eight kg. The idol has been handed over to Hiriadka police station and further investigation is on.
Shetty added, “The locals observed that normally this kind of idols are not worshipped in temples and are normally used as decorative pieces at homes. The people also alternatively guessed that this might be an idol stolen by thieves and hidden here.”
However, he also stated that many people throw garbage into the river and there is a possibility that they might have dumped the idol of Lord Krishna.
