Stolen Buddha statue recovered, restored to owner

Tiruchirapalli, Mar 14 (UNI) Police have arrested two persons for stealing an ancient Buddha statue from a field at Vellanur village near here a few days back.

Police said, the 4.5 ft high granite statue weighing 1.5 tonnes, has been in the field of one Arivudainambi, who used to perform poojas to it. It suddenly went missing on March 7.

Based on a complaint by its owner, Lalgudi police registered a case and arrested Muthukumar (23) of Orathanad in Thanjavur district and Lawrence (26) of Thanajavur.

During interrogation, the two admitted to the crime and told the police that they had buried the stolen statue in a field near Thanjavur.

A police party went there and recovered the statue today.

The two had stolen the statue in order to export it to any country where Buddhism was practiced.

Police are also continuing to question the two culprits whether they had links with any international idol lifting gang.

UNI RV VV 1833