Tamil Nadu: 18 idols stolen from temple

Jayankondam, Tamil Nadu, Apr 15: Eighteen panchaloha idols worth about Rs 1 crore were stolen by an unidentified gang from Varadharajaperumal temple at Suthamalli village near here.

The stolen idols that included Lord Sundaramoorthy, Shiva, goddees Parvathi, Sri Nataraja, Sri Somaskandar, Muruga with Valli Deivanai, Shi Varatharajaperumal along with Sridevi Bhoodevi and Sri Chakarathazhvar of ancient Sundareswarar temple, were kept at the Sri Varadharajaperumal temple for safety purposes.

The one-two feet height idols weighed about 10 to 20 kg each, police said yesterday. The temple priest, who went to open the temple found the locks of the front gate and the room of the idols where it was kept broken. Based on his information, the temple Executive Officer lodged a complaint with Udayarpalayam police, who registered a case in this connection.

UNI