On Tuesday, the Jammu and Kashmir police recovered an ancient sculpture of Goddess Durga. This relic was recovered from Khag area located in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir.

In its media release, the police department stated that the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, Jammu and Kashmir was informed to examine the recovered sculpture and they sent a team for that purpose.

This team arrived at the District Police Office Budgam yesterday and declared that the sculpture is of Goddess Durga. They roughly dated to the 7th Century AD, which makes it nearly 1300 years old.

Providing information about the sculpture, the release said: "The sculpture is carved in a black stone. This sculpture is of goddess Durga seated on a lion throne, the left side of the arm is missing from the shoulder, the sculpture is having the influence of Gandhara School of Art and right hand is holding a lotus.”

The Durga sculpture was formally handed over to Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh, Deputy Director Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and his team by Tahir Saleem Khan, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam.

It may be recalled that in August this year, the J&K police had recovered another Goddess Durga sculpture, which was 1,200 year old. It was found by labourers from Jehlum river at Pandthrethan area of Srinagar while extracting sand.

Also read: Kashmir police rescues 1,200-year-old Maa Durga sculpture