3 nabbed for smuggling Buddha statue on Indo-Nepal border

Three persons were arrested for allegedly smuggling an 'ashtadhatu' (eight metals) statue of Lord Buddha in Sirsia area on Indo-Nepal border, SSB sources said here today.

Shivaji Verma, Jagram Yadav and Balakram were arrested by police and SSB jawans yesterday and the statue weighing around 12 kgs, reportedly smuggled from Nepal, was recovered from their possession, they said.

Police claimed that the statue was worth Rs 12 crore in the international market.