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US customs officials recover idol looted from Indian temple

NEW YORK — US customs officials have recovered a bronze religious statue from the 11th or 12th century that they say was looted from a temple in India.

A religious statue that US customs officials say was looted from a temple in India. Photo: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP

A religious statue that US customs officials say was looted from a temple in India. Photo: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP

NEW YORK — US customs officials have recovered a bronze religious statue from the 11th or 12th century that they say was looted from a temple in India.

The New York office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said yesterday (July 1) that an anonymous collector voluntarily surrendered the idol.

It says the 0.75m idol was looted from a temple in Tamil Nadu at the southern tip of India. It will be returned to India.

Customs agents say the collector bought the object in 2006 and was given false provenance papers.

ICE says the bronze statue would sell for as much as US$1 million (S$1.4 million) if legitimately offered on the market.

Its recovery is part of a three-year investigation into former New York-based art dealer Subhash Kapoor. Kapoor is awaiting trial in India on looting charges. AP

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