Tawang, March 4, 2026:
Police in Tawang apprehended a tourist from West Bengal for allegedly stealing religious items from Buddha Park after CCTV footage of the incident surfaced online and went viral on Tuesday.
The footage reportedly showed the tourist taking a Buddha idol and other sacred articles from the premises, which quickly spread across social media platforms and prompted authorities to initiate efforts to identify and trace the individual involved.
Acting on the available inputs, a police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Tasso Kato, along with Inspector Niyi Angu, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tawang Police Station, launched a swift operation and successfully traced the accused on Wednesday morning.
During the operation, police recovered all the stolen items from the possession of the tourist. The recovered articles included a medium-sized Buddha idol from Tawang Monastery, a pair of Tingsha cymbals, and two metal butter lamps belonging to the Giant Buddha Statue Park.
However, the administration of the Buddha Park Gompa decided not to pursue the matter further after the sacred items were safely recovered. Sources said the caretaker monk and the Gompa management chose to pardon the tourist, considering the prompt recovery of the religious articles and his assurance that such an incident would not be repeated.
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| Recovered Items. |
As a precautionary measure, police obtained a written undertaking from the tourist, in which he admitted his mistake and assured authorities that he would refrain from engaging in similar acts in the future. He was also warned about the legal consequences of committing such offences and advised to respect the religious sentiments and sanctity of sacred sites while visiting them.
Meanwhile, the police department has urged local hoteliers and tourism stakeholders to remain vigilant and cooperate in maintaining security and discipline in the region. Authorities advised hotel owners and lodge operators to properly verify the identity and credentials of visiting tourists during check-in and maintain proper records as mandated by law.
Police also appealed to them to promptly report any suspicious behaviour or unusual activities involving visitors so that timely preventive action can be taken. Officials stated that cooperation from the hospitality sector is essential to safeguard religious sites, ensure public safety, and maintain the peaceful environment of the popular tourist destination.
