Three held for illegally selling 700-year-old idols

Three persons have been arrested for illegally trying to sell some 700-year-old religious idols belonging to Hoysala dynasty period here.
After receiving reports about persons trying to sell ancient idols illegally at Kamakshipalya police station's limits here, police swung into action and arrested one person on May 11 and seized a valuable and ancient- damaged 'Bhoodevi' idol from him, police today said.
Based on the information provided by him, police said, they arrested two of his associates and seized a 'Sridevi' idol from them.
Stating that a few of their associates are still absconding and possess an idol of 'Chennakesava', police said efforts are on to nab the culprits.

Officials said the idols were stolen from Chennakeshwara Swamy temple in Nalluru village of Aluru taluk in Hassan district, and a case to this effect was registered at Aluru police station
The Hoysala empire, to which these idols belong, was a prominent Southern Indian Kannadiga empire, ruled most of the modern-day state of Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu.