Panitanki proves to be safe route for antique smugglers

SNS, Siliguri, 20 December 2013: The open and porous Indo-Nepal border at Panitanki is proving to be a safe passage for the antique-smugglers, said some senior Indian Customs officials. 

According to them, these antiques are being smuggled to the Middle-East countries to be sold in the international markets. They demand security be strengthened along the Indo-Nepal border to checkmate such smuggling of antiques. 

The preventive unit of the Indian Customs had seized eight idols whose market prices are supposed to be in the neighbourhood of Rs 2.85 crore on Wednesday night from Kharibari near the Indo-Nepal border. 

“The Indo-Nepal border is being used as the corridor for such smuggling. The idols seized on Wednesday night were meant to be smuggled to the Middle-East countries via Nepal. This is a common trend. Unless security is adequately bolstered it would be difficult to check the menace of smuggling," said the superintendent of Naxalbari Customs Preventive Unit, Mr Sandip Banerjee. 

"Acting on a tip-off, we made a raid and found the idols that were tucked inside some gunny bags near a railway station. The idols are of the Hindu pantheon of deities like Vishnu, Shiva-Parbati and Manasa. They are supposed to belong to 8th and 12th centuries. Their international market prices are fairly lucrative for the smugglers," Mr Banerjee added. 

It is learnt from the sources, the large stretches of borders with Nepal and Bangladesh, particularly the former being open, have made them vulnerable as regards smuggling of antiques. “This is dangerous from the point of view of security too,” a source said. The idols were later taken to the history department of the North Bengal University where they are presently being examined as to the time they belong to. 

“Three of the idols are made of black stone, two, of sand stone and another, of terracota. They seemingly date back to 8th and 12th centuries. Their estimated value is around Rs 2.85 crore,” he said. 

Mr Banerjee also said the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) should hold awareness camps to make the people aware of the menace.