Rare 12th Century's four idols seized by Customs sleuths

Siliguri, Dec 22(UNI) Customs sleuths today seized four 12th century's idols of Sun god and Lord Vishnu from a car near Bagdogra airport, about 25 kms west of this commercial town of West Bengal.

The idols, made of black stone weighing about 52 kgs and worth about Rs 1.3 crore, were recovered from an abandoned private car near Changamandi bridge, some few kms inside from Nepal border, Customs officials said.

They said the idols, all between 18 to 24 inches high, two sun gods, each on a chariot driven by seven hourses and accompanied by seven demi-gods, were taken from an undiscolsed area in North Dinajpur for selling in Nepal, where antics market is very popular among the westerners.

The two other idols of Lord Bishnu, also made of black stone, were tested by University of North Bengal's histroy department Reader Dr Binoy Kumar Sarkar to veryfy its age and authencity. He said the idols were of the 12th century AD.

No one was arrested in this connection.

UNI