Smuggling bid of idols averted, one arrested

Police today averted a smuggling bid and seized eight antique panchaloha idols of Hindu gods and goddesses worth about Rs 77 crore in the illegal international market and arrested one person.

The idols, mainly belonging to Chola period (10th and 11th centuries), were seized from a hideout in West Mambalam here following a tip-off before it could be smuggled out of the country.

"The idols have been stolen from two temples in Tiruvannamalai District," a police release said.

Among the idols were that of Lord Shiva, Parvathi, and Vishnu.

This is the third instance in the past 15 days when a smuggling bid of antique idols was prevented, police said.