Islamabad: A Buddha statue on display at a museum has been found damaged and the authorities suspect involvement of students of a nearby religious seminary.

Pieces of the statue were found scattered around the museum run by State-owned cultural organisation Lok Virsa this weekend, an online news agency reported.

The police raided a nearby madrasa or Islamic religious seminary, thoroughly searched it and subsequently asked the resident students and administration to leave the school.

The Lok Virsa management, which was planning to install the Buddha statue within its premises, believes the students were behind the incident, the report said.

The night watchman of the museum, who was recently sacked, resided in the madrasa, it added.