Major robbery at Sreeraman temple in Kerala

Thrissur, Kerala, May 30: In a major robbery at the Sreeraman temple at Triprayar near here, gold ornaments, silver artefacts, two 'panchaloha' idols and currency notes from three coffers in the sanctum sanctorum were found missing today.

Two security guards, who were on duty at the temple yesterday, were being questioned by the police. The doors of the sanctum sanctorum were found open today and three coffers were found broken. Only coins were found in the coffers, while all the currency notes had been taken away.

According to sources, the monthly offerings at the temple amount to about Rs five lakh.

Besides money, gold ornaments weighing 176 gm, a big silver pot and nine small silver pots and a silver 'golaka' worth lakhs of rupees were also found missing.

The temple is administered by the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB).

Senior police officials, including the Thrissur SP, and CDB President T G Ravi rushed to the temple.

Police have started investigations with the help of finger print experts and sniffer dogs.

Located about 20 km from here, the Tripriyar Sreeraman Kshetram is an ancient temple forming part of a quartet of temples ('nalambalam') dedicated to Lord Ram and his brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughnan.

UNI