A sculpture of Hindu goddess Durga believed to be at least1200 years old, was recovered by the Police in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Monday. The statuette was handed over to the Department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums on Tuesday.

Officials informed that the sculpture of 12”x 08” size carved in a black stone is of Hindu goddess Durga seated on a lion throne along with 4 attendants.

Speaking with Greater Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Budgam, Tahir Saleem Khan said that the ancient sculpture was recovered from a local in Khansahab area in Budgam after getting reports that “he was attempting to sell it”.

Later in the day, a statement issued by the police said the sculpture was recovered from the house of Nawaz Ahmad Sheikh son of Abdul Rashid Sheikh, a resident of

Yarikhah Khansahab during a search. It said that Sheikh was attempting to sell it but police recovered it from him.
The police statement said that a team of officers from department of Archives, Archaeology & Museums were called for examination of the recovered sculpture at district police office Budgam.

According to the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Jammu and Kashmir, the sculpture of Goddess Durga dates back to the 7th or 8th AD which makes it over 1200 years old, deeming it an important ancient artifact.