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This story is from April 28, 2006
Antique dealer nabbed, 200 idols seized
City police seized more than 200 antique idols from a godown tucked away at remote and almost inaccessible corner of Narol.
The consignment of statues, which includes idols from Jain temples, were to be exported on the sly to different destinations across the globe by a gang of antique smugglers, two of whom are residents of Thailand.
This is the second such seizure since April 18. The customs officials had seized a consignment of 25 antique statues from Inland Container Depot at Sabarmati.
A Belgium national Etiene Verhaegen had booked the consignment as household goods and left for France. Police officials believe that the two seizures are linked and part of a larger antique smuggling racket.
"Probe into this smuggling racket has revealed links to Belgium, France and now Thailand. We hope to nab more antique smugglers who have been stealing valuable artefacts from Gujarat and neighbouring states,"said police sources. Owner of the godown at Narol, Ismail Memon, was arrested by Danilimda police.
A complaint of Antique Art and Treasure Act was lodged at the Danilimda police station against Memon and the two Thailanders.
Police said that the Thailanders, who played a key role in purchase, theft and smuggling of the antiques, were related to each other and that one of them have been identified as Kahetauuat Khaniyour, 27.
"Most of the ancient idols and statuettes are made of marble and sandstone. The largest one is about four feet tall, weighing 15 to 30 kg.
The statues, pillars and stone filigree that have been seized are believed to be more than 100-year-old. A team of Archaeological Survey of India has inspected the consignment and certified them to be antiques.
Hunt for the Thailanders is on,"said joint commissioner of police Ashish Bhatia. Investigations into the antique smuggling racket has been jointly conducted by the customs department and police sleuths.
Custom officials told TOI: "Our probe, after recovery of 25 antique statues, revealed that the smuggling racket was larger in proportion."
Police sleuths dug further and found that the smugglers also bought antiques from different parts of the country. Some of the idols are from Kutch region and Rajasthan.
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