Panchaloha seized, three arrested

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 2. Members of the West Zone Task Force, under the supervision of Mr. T. Yoganand, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, have arrested three persons and seized two stolen idols (panchaloha) of Lord Vishnu and of Nagakanya cast in brass -- worth Rs. 10 lakhs.

In a press release, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. S.R. Sukumara, said that the team, on a tip-off, laid trap for the trio -- Ravichandra, Khaja Mohd. Bashir and Badrinarayana -- all residents of the city. It is learnt that Ravichandra had first come in contact with Bashir, Badrinarayana, Satyanarayana, Khaja Badruddin and T.V.K. Gupta, who were all said to be dealing with stolen and smuggled idols.

He collected the idol of Lord Vishnu from Satyanarayana, Badruddin and Ravichandra, while Badrinarayana collected the idol of Nagakanya from Gupta and set a price of Rs. 10 lakhs on the two idols.

As they were searching for a buyer in the city, the Task Force officials came to know about it and through a decoy struck a deal with them for Rs. 8 lakhs. At the time when the idol and money were to change hands, the police nabbed them near Bluemoon Hotel in Begumpet.

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Section  : Southern States
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