Damauli, August 3

Tanahun Police today made public the fact that three persons were planning to sell a statue of Gautam Buddha saying it was made of gold.

A police team deployed from DPO, had arrested the trio with the statue from a hotel at Aanbukhairani on June 15. The arrested have been identified as Jhamendra Regmi, 49, of Panchthar, Ramraj Siwakoti, 45, of Dolakha and Min Bahadur Kumal, 31, of Tanahun.

DSP Surendra Bahadur Gurung said the police team had acted on a tip-off and arrested the trio.

DSP Gurung further informed that the police team held them while they were planning to sell the statue saying that it was made of gold. He added that the statute was made of other metals when it was tested in the department of archaeology. The weight of the statute is six kg 300 grams. Investigation into the case has begun, said police.