An antique 'ashtdhaatu' idol of Lord Vishnu, with an estimated value of Rs 45 crore, was seized by border guarding force SSB in West Bengal before it was to be smuggled across to Nepal.
The force also apprehended a person, identified as P Rishi (60), after it conducted an operation on the National Highway 31 near Bagdogra yesterday.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) said the idol was 500- years-old and had a value of Rs 45 crore in the antiques market.
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The force, in a statement, said the man told them that he had stolen the idol, weighing about 24 kg and 54 cm in height, from a temple in Purnia in Bihar along with an alleged accomplice about two months back.
The SSB said the man was trying to sell the golden coloured idol, made of 'ashtdhaatu' (alloy), in Nepal and was on way to cross the Indo-Nepal International Border (IB) near here when he was apprehended.
A thriving network of smugglers keeps stealing antique idols from temples in Bihar and they sell them in Nepal from where they are sent to other countries where collectors buy them at very high prices, a senior official said.
The force said the idol was sent for examination to the University of North Bengal which informed them about its importance.
"The experts confirmed that the image indicates the prevalence of Chaitanya Vaisnavism in Bengal. The Vaisnava 'Lanchhana' on the forehead of the figure indicates that it is undoubtly Vaisnava icon.
"The patron of the image was follower of Bengal Vaisnavism. It is a rare metal sculpture of Gour or Netai," the SSB said.
The SSB is tasked with guarding the 1,751 km long India- Nepal border.
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