11 Indian antiques to be brought back from abroad

As many as 11 Indian antiques including sculptures of God Vishnu, Buddha and Dengarpura Durga have been illegally trafficked from India and efforts are on to bring them back, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said today.

"As per records available there are 11 cases of cultural properties illegally trafficked from India", Sharma said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

He said government has approached the foreign countries through the Missions abroad for the retrieval of Indian antiques.

Torso of God Vishnu located in USA, Dengarpura Durga found in Germany, Kushana seated Buddha sculpture from Australia and Khajuraho parrot lady from Canada among other antiques are to be retrieved from foreign countries.

Other antiques to be brought back from abroad include Chola bronze statue from Singapore, sculpture of Gadgach Temple, 10th century Dancing Ganesha, Vishnu riding on Garuda, Bharhut sculpture, Uma and Ganesha from USA.

Sharma said antiques intended for public exhibition in a public museum or national institution are exempted from basic custom duty.