Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Sep 1: A Panchaloha (five metal alloy) idol of Lord Krishna in the posture of playing a flute was found from under Bellapally bridge on the night of Monday August 31. This bridge has been built across River Swarna at Bellampally.

At around 8 pm on Monday August 31, some fishermen, who have adopted catching fish with the help of fishing lines as pastime, saw some shining object below the bridge. Locals Purandar Kotian, Rakesh, Nishan, Ritik, Naveen, Atrady Dinesh Poojary and members of their amateur team of fish catchers, immediately plunged into the river and brought the idol out of the river.

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. Praveen Shetty stated, “The locals observed that normally this kind of idols are not worshipped in temples and they 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.”