Itanagar, March 5: A 54-year-old tourist from West Bengal was detained in Arunachal Pradesh for stealing sacred items from Tawang Monastery and Giant Buddha Statue Park, police said on Thursday.

Tawang Deputy Superintendent of Police Kato Tasso revealed that CCTV footage of the theft went viral on social media, leading to the man’s quick identification and arrest. The suspect took a Buddha idol from India’s largest monastery and a pair of Tingsha cymbals along with two metal butter lamps from the park.

A police team tracked him down Wednesday morning, recovering all items valued at Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 from his possession.No formal case was filed after the Buddha Park Gompa administration chose leniency. The caretaker monk and management forgave the tourist following his apology and assurance against repetition. Police secured a written undertaking from him, warning of legal action and urging respect for religious sites.

The man had arrived in Tawang with his wife on March 2 for a vacation.