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Tamil Nadu
Move to recover unearthed idols
Special Correspondent
Priceless find: The ancient panchaloha idols unearthed near Tirukkuvalai on display in Nagapattinam.
NAGAPATTINAM: The Nagapattinam district administration has planned to set up a committee consisting of revenue and police officials to enquire into the treasure troves and recover unearthed ancient ‘panchaloha’ idols and other antique pieces that are kept illegally by cartels suspected to be involved in smuggling such items to foreign countries.
The district administration’s move to form the committee follows its receipt of information that the ancient treasures unearthed in the recent past while digging land for construction work have not been handed over to the Government.
The administration has taken note of the fact that many are still unaware that such antiquities should be handed over to the Government.
The Revenue Department will soon be handing over the ‘panchaloha’ idols it recovered from the construction sites to the Government Museum.
The information that two ‘panchaloha’ idols unearthed at Azhinjamangalam village near Nagapattinam were retained illegally by two villagers, was passed on to the police and revenue officials by the locals.
They were promptly recovered.
Similarly, a ‘panchaloha’ ‘kavacham’ of Mariamman and ‘trisoolam’ that were unearthed at Palayur village near Velankanni, kept illegally by two persons, were recovered.
As a rare case, the officials were informed immediately by locals about 18 ‘panchaloha’ idols unearthed at Arundavampulam village near Tirukkuvalai. They handed them over to the museum.
The Collector, Tenkasi S. Jawahar, has appealed to the public to pass on information about such idols immediately to police and revenue officials.
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