Salem, Tamil Nadu:
Cracking the antique idol theft case within days, the city police on Monday arrested three persons and recovered the 2.5 foot dancing Nataraja idol, stated to be worth more than Rs 3 crore.
Displaying the 120 kg dancing posture Lord Nataraja idol at a press conference, City Police Commissioner K C Mahali said the police were searching for six other members of the gang which stole the antique piece from a businessman's house after attacking him on December 18.
Two members of the gang had first approached Selvakumar under the pretext of purchasing the idol. Later they attacked him, his wife and friend and fled with the idol.
Police said the idol was purchased by one Eswaramurthy of Thiruvannamalai in an auction conducted by the British government in 1905. Later it had come into the hands of Selvakumar.
Mahali said the idol was more than 200 years old.