Activists of Bajrang Dal protested at Shalamar near Ranbireshwar Mandir area for immediate recovery of the 250 year old ‘Ashtabhuja Mata’ idol, which was stolen for the second time from a historical temple of the Goddess at Kishtwar area. People have been protesting for the recovery of the religious idol for the last nine months, which is worth Rs 10 crores in the international market.

The activists said that the police has failed to apprehend the local and outside smugglers so far and torched the effigy of the administration to show their resentment.

City convener Rakesh Sharma, co-convener state Bajrang Dal Vikal Parihar, co-convenor, city Bajrang Dal, Kapil Kohli and Neeraj led the agitators.

During agitation Rakesh Sharma demanded that the case should be handed over to Interpol as they feared that the idol might have been smuggled out of the country.

They warned that the agitation would be carried out countrywide if the ancient religious idol of Ashtabhuja Mata is not recovered immediately.