Idol theft gang busted in Tamil Nadu, six held

Six persons allegedly belonging to a gang involved in stealing idols from temples were today arrested and 10 bronze sculptures recovered from their possession here, police said.

Acting on instructions from Idol Smuggling Prevention Wing IGP Pon Manickavel, police trapped the accused after posing as prospective buyers.

Seven of the seized idols have been identified as belonging to a temple at Pinnavasal village. They were stolen on May 12 this year, police said, adding that efforts were on to trace where the other idols had come from.

Information on the gang had emerged when a special team was investigating the murder of a woman doctor near here on October 9, they said.