Vijaywada, June 13: In a major catch, the city police nabbed a gang involved in the selling of antique idols here on Saturday and recovered two historical idols from the possession of the gang members. According to Governorpet inspector S Prasada Rao, the three-member gang was headed by one Undrajavarapu Salmon Raju of Palkole in West Godavari district.
According to the police, the gang had been purchasing stolen idols and selling the same to big traders, who have links with international merchants. He said the gang picked up two idols of Lord Srirama and Seethadevi from a dacoit named Ravi and reached the city to sell it to a prospective customer.
Upon information, the police team conducted raids on the vehicle in which they arrived in the city and seized the idols. The archaeological department had confirmed that the idols were a century old and that it would be worth nearly Rs 1.5 crore in the international market.
The police arrested three persons Salmonraju, Satyanarayana of Gajuwaka and Apparao of Bhimavaram. Salmonraju, retired defence personnel, had been in the real-estate sector in WG and wanted to make easy money. Police were looking for Ravi, who originally stole the idols from a temple at Ungutur in Gampagudem mandal.
——–Agencies