Idols worth Rs 7 crore seized

Malappuram (Ker): Two `panchaloha` idols
worth Rs seven crore and dating back to the Chola dynasty
period have been recovered by police from a five-member gang
at nearby Perinthalmanna.

Police said the idols of Goddess Uma Devi and Jaina
Theerthankara, weighing 9.50 kg and 4 kg, were seized from the
gang last evening when they were taking it in a vehicle.
The panchaloha idols are made up of five metals.

Archaeological Survey of India officials said the
idols, smuggled from Tamil Nadu, dated to the Chola dynasty
period of the 17th and 18th centuries.

PTI