Police recovered an ancient stone idol of the Hindu deity Vishnu, weighing approximately 137 kg, from Porsha upazila in Naogaon on Wednesday night.
Acting on a tip-off, a team from Porsha Police Station conducted a raid at a family graveyard owned by Rashidul Islam in Shitli village, Nitpur union. The idol was found hidden under a pile of straw.
Local goldsmiths assisted police in a preliminary examination. Porsha Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ziaur Rahman noted that while the primary figure is Vishnu, the carving also features two smaller male and female figures.
"We suspect individuals with malicious intent hid the idol there for illegal sale," the OC stated. He added that an investigation is underway to identify and prosecute those involved.
The artifact is currently held at the police station. It will be transferred to the Department of Archaeology for formal authentication and preservation following standard legal procedures.
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