7 nabbed for stealing idol

Seven people were today arrested and an 'ashtdhatu' (alloy of eight metals) idol worth about Rs 1.75 crore, which was stolen from Bihar in February, was seized from them, police said.
Acting on a tip off, police arrested the accused, all aged between 20 and 25, and recovered the idol of Mata Janki weighing over 17 kg from near Usiyan bridge in Dildarnagar police station area, SP Umesh Chand Srivastava said.
The accused said they were waiting for a prospective buyer when they were arrested, Srivastava said.
The recovered idol, said to be around 250 years old, was stolen from Kaimur district in Bihar on February 20 this year, the SP said, adding that the cost of the idol in the international black market was around Rs 1.75 crore.

Two country made weapons, cartridges and a motorcycle were also recovered from the accused who are said to be members of an inter-state gang of idol smugglers.
DIG Varanasi and SP Gazipur have awarded the police team which made the recovery.