Center handed over 10 idols stolen from temples of Tamil Nadu to the state, brought back from US-Australia

India

oi – Ankur Singh

Chennai, 02 May.
The central government has handed back 10 idols stolen from Tamil Nadu temples to the Tamil Nadu government. These idols were stolen from different places between 1960 and 2008. These sculptures were handed over by the US and Australia to the Union Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs in 2020, 2021, 2022. These idols were handed over to Tamil Nadu DGP C Shailendra Babu during a program.

Among the idols that have been returned are two idols of Dwarapal, which is from 15-16th century, it was stolen from Tirunelvalli in 1994. Both the idols were handed over by Australia to India in 2020. Apart from this, two metal idols were stolen from Narsinghdhar Swamy temple in 1985, it has been handed over by America to India. A bronze statue of Lord Nataraja, an 11-12th century idol, was stolen from the Punnanallur Arulmigu Mariaman temple in 1966-77. It was kept in the Museum of New York. Apart from this, another bronze idol of Lord Shiva and Parvati was stolen from Vanamigandhar Swamy temple, this idol has been found from Indiana.

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ASI has succeeded in bringing all these idols back to India. The ASI has also been successful in bringing back the four-handed Vishnu and Sri Devi idols. Two metal sculptures from the childhood of Saint Sambdar, which were stolen from the Sayavaneeswarar temple, have been returned by the Government of Australia. Altogether 8 metal sculptures and 2 stone sculptures came back to India. Out of which 6 idols have been brought back from America and 4 from Australia.

Talking to the media, Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said that the credit goes to PM Modi. Modi government has succeeded in bringing back 238 idols stolen from India. This has been possible because of PM Modi’s personal relationship with global leaders.