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Monday, 28th July 2008 (2040 views)

Two people have been arrested in Jalandhar, India after they tried to sell a 1.2kg gold Buddha at a market, reports the Times of India.

Shahkot police said Manul Hassan and Mohd Manajir claimed they had found the statue after digging around in the ruins of an old building in Baghpat.

However, police said they think the icon was probably stolen.

"Preliminary tests conducted by goldsmiths have confirmed that though gold makes up most of the idol, it also has 'ashtdhaatu' that was used in ancient times to ensure longevity of precious items," said Shahkot DSP Diljinder Singh Dhillon.

This suggests, according to the policeman, that the Buddha was probably stolen from either a religious place or a museum.

Archaeologists have said the idol is ancient.

Buddhism is an ancient religion founded on the teachings of Gautama Buddha who lived in what is now modern-day Nepal.

It is practiced mainly in eastern and south-eastern Asia.

 

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