IIT-M roped in to secure recovered idols, says DGP

TIRUCHY: Steps are initiated to protect the recovered idols with a modern device with radio wave support after securing 3D photo to prevent their theft again and IIT Madras has been roped in for the purpose, said DGP C Sylendra Babu in Kumbakonam on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after conducting a review meeting at the Idol Wing office at Kumbakonam, the DGP said, as many as 187 ancient idols were recovered in the past one year.

While as many as 60 ancient idols have been recovered from foreign countries, among them as many as 10 idols were found to be very rare idols and they were recovered from Australia, the US and England.

In addition to that, the special team has now identified the places where the missing idols have been kept and steps are initiated to bring back those idols to Tamil Nadu.

“After bringing back those recovered idols, the genuineness of the idols would be checked and handed over to the respective temples,” the DGP said.

Stating that a high-level safety device would be provided to around 300 recovered idols in the recent years, the DGP said the IIT Madras has been roped in to protect the idols with radio wave equipment after 3D photocopying of the idols. “This will certainly prevent theft at any cost,” said the DGP.

Earlier, the DGP visited the modern control room established in Thanjavur and inquired about the functioning with the officials. Subsequently, he told the reporters that around 1,400 CCTV cameras have been fixed across Thanjavur district. He also said that all police stations across the state have CCTV cameras.