From correspondents in Uttar Pradesh, India, 08:00 PM IST

Uttar Pradesh police have busted an inter-state racket of idol smugglers after recovering 19 antique idols worth Rs.10 crore (one million) stolen from Bihar's Bodhgaya temple.

Three people have been arrested from a town in Chandauli district and police said they were going to Varanasi to sell the stolen idols to a person there.

'Acting on a tip-off, we intercepted a Tata Sumo late Tuesday in the Mugalsarai town and arrested the three smugglers along with 19 antique idols,' Chandauli Superintendent of Police M.D. Karndhar told IANS Wednesday.

One of arrested hails from Bihar.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)