Tripura CID to probe into antique idol recovery case

Agartala, Dec 12 (UNI) The Tripura Home department has assigned the recovery case of an antique piece - a Lord Narayan idol - to the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Superintendent of Police (CID) Nepal Das said here today that the idol, believed to be an 11th century antique piece, measuring about two and half feet and weighing about 180 kgs, was recovered from an abandoned location near the Civil Secretariat on December 10.

Acting on a tip-off, West Agartala police had recovered the black stone idol, valued at Rs three crore in the international market.

Archaeologists opined that the idol belonged to the ancient Pal dynasty and was certainly priceless, considering its iconographic style.

It was for the fourth time that a precious antique piece was recovered from the city during the past decade.

Mr Das pointed out that an international smuggling racket might have been involved in the case as Indian antiques were smuggled out to Bangladesh en route to the US and European countries for private curators and antique collectors.

However, no one was arrested so far in connection with the case, the SP added.

UNI