The artifacts were stolen over 20 years ago.
New Delhi:
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel handed the bronze idols of Lord Rama, Lakshman and Goddess Sita to the government of Tamil Nadu at ASI headquarters, returning the artifacts stolen there is over 20 years old.
On September 15, the London Metropolitan Police turned over the statues to the Indian High Commission after their recovery. Mr. Patel had attended the event via video link as the main guest.
On Wednesday, Mr. Patel congratulated the High Commission of India, thanked the London Metropolitan Police as well as the idol wing of the government of Tamil Nadu for their excellent job in restoring these statues.
He praised the positive role played by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), especially over the past six years, in recovering masterpieces of the country’s cultural heritage.
In August last year, the High Commission of India, London, was informed by India Pride Project that four ancient idols of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, had been stolen from a temple built at the time of Vijayanagara in Tamil Nadu and smuggled. from India, possibly UK.
