From correspondents in Kathmandu, Nepal, 03:06 PM IST

Thieves broke into the Pashupatinath temple here, one of the most revered Hindu shrines in the world, stealing an idol and other valuables.

By Sunday the Kathmandu police had arrested 10 people over Friday night's theft at the temple, regarded as a world heritage site by the Unesco.

'We are holding a meeting today to discuss the theft,' officials at the Pashupatinath Area Development Trust, entrusted with the upkeep of the temple, told IANS Sunday.

According to officials, thieves broke into the Laxmi Narayan temple near the main temple that houses the Pashupatinath icon and made off with a Ganesh idol as well as other valuables in the temple.

Theft from temples and the smuggling of priceless Nepali statues and other icons is on the rise.

Last month, a temple in the Bhaktapur district had its deity and other valuables stolen.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)