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BANGALORE, INDIA, September 4, 2003: A temple priest from Kolar district and two others were arrested in the city by the police when they were trying to sell antique icons (of Chola dysnasty) worth over US$3.2 million in the international market on Wednesday. Giving details of the thieves and their operation, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Mohan said archeological department has certified that one of the six icons recovered from the arrested as over 400 years old. The arrested have been identified as Sampath Kumar, head priest of Venkataramana Swamy Temple in Gudibanda, Lokananda of Manchenahalli in Gauribidanur taluk and Sudhakar of Vidyaranyapura. According to police, Sampath Kumar stole original icons from the temple where he worked and replaced imitation icons in the temple. Later, with help from Lokananda and Sudhakar, he tried to sell it and got caught, DCP (North) Syed Ulfath Hussein said. Seized icons are of Venkataramana Swamy, Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Srilakshmi, Anjaneya and Srinivasa and they weigh over 40 kgs, police said.

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