Palpa, August 19:

Police personnel were involved in smuggling valuable timber and wooden sculptures from the Tansen Durbar, it was revealed today.

Locals this morning saw four police personnel carrying the valuable timber and wooden sculptures from the historic Tansen Durbar.

The four police personnel, however, escaped from the site when they saw the local people, leaving the valuable timber and sculptures in front of the Makhantole police post.

Locals later informed the Deputy Superintendent of Police Chabi Lal Banjade at the district police office about the theft and a team of police personnel seized the valuable wood.

Police arrested a timber businessman and a policeman for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of the artefacts.

An investigation into the matter is underway, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Banjade informed.

The information about the progress in the investigation of the case would be publicly announced at a press conference to be organised tomorrow, he said.

Tough action would be taken against those who are found guilty in the incident, said Chief District Officer (CDO) of Palpa, Bal Krishna Panthi.