Idol found in police station

A 'panchaloha' (five metals) idol of Lord Vishnu was allegedly found hoarded in a police station in the district, officials said Sunday.

The three-feet tall idol, believed to be ancient, surfaced during a cleaning operation at the Mannargudi police station and was handed over to the jurisdictional tahsildhar Sunday, they said.

Investigations were on to ascertain how the idol came to be in the station, they said adding any such idol seized by the Police should have been handed over to a court or revenue officials as per rules.

The idol was packed in a polythene bag and kept in a corner. It was not known immediately whether it was seized from any smuggler or dealer, revenue officials said.