Brahma idol worth Rs 35 crore recovered at Mahadevpur in Naogaon, detained-3

 

Nuruzzaman Liton, District Representative Naogaon

Police have recovered a black stone Brahma idol weighing 60 kg and worth about Tk 35 crore from Mahadevpur in Naogaon district. Three people were arrested in the incident. The estimated value of the statue is Tk 35 crore, police said.

Police raided the house of Ganesh Pal in Sultanpur Dakshinpara village of Mahadevpur upazila on Wednesday afternoon and recovered the idol.

Mani Mandal (25) of Sultanpur village, Sumon Sardar (30) of Tatarpur village and Rocky Mandal (19) of the same village were arrested in the incident.

Police say the three are members of an idol-smuggling ring. They were trying to smuggle the idol.

In this regard, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mahadevpur Police Station Azam Uddin Ahmed said that a team of police raided the house of Ganesh Pal of Sultanpur Dakshinpara village in Uttargram Union of the upazila after 1pm on the basis of secret information of National Intelligence Agency (NSI). The idol was recovered from the house after a search. The three accused were arrested at that time. The statue was found broken in several parts. The rescued statue weighs more than 80 kg and is made of black stone. It is believed to be a Brahma idol made of stone. The estimated value of the statue is 35 crore rupees.

He added that a case was pending against the detainees. The statue is in the process of being handed over to the Archaeological Department.