Two held with stolen antique idols in Hyd

Two persons from neighbouring Karnataka were nabbed here today while they were allegedly trying to sell three stolen antique 'panchaloha' idols, police said.
Based on a tip off, a police team apprehended Shaik Hyder and Shaik Aziz while they were trying to dispose of the idols at Afzalgunj, Hyderabad Commissioner of Police V V Srinivas Rao told reporters.
The seized idols are of deities Lord Venugopalaswamy, goddess Rukmini and goddess Sathyabama.
Hyder and Aziz, both aged 25, hailed from Bhalki town in Bidar district of Karnataka.
"They allegedly stole the idols dating back nearly 600 years, with an international market value about Rs 3 crore, from a temple in Kamareddy town of Telangana, by breaking the lock of the temple door last month," the commissioner said.

Explaining the modus operandi of the accused, Rao said, "the duo used to travel by a bus or a taxi in rural areas abutting towns and conduct a recee of the local area temples wherein antique Panchaloha idolsare available".
He said the duo were wanted in similar cases of theft in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Hyder and Aziz are being handed over to the SHO of KamareddyTown police stationalong with the seized material, for further investigation, Rao added.