The Hindu : Front Page : Five ‘panchaloha’ idols recovered

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 02, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Five ‘panchaloha’ idols recovered

Special Correspondent

MADURAI: Police recovered five ‘panchaloha’ idols and other valuables all worth Rs. 5 lakh, which were burgled from a Perumal temple in Saptur, Madurai district, and arrested three persons, including a police constable, on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Madurai Range) P. Balasubramanian said that following a complaint on June 26 that five panchaloha idols, ‘tirumangalyam’ ‘spatikamaalai’ and other valuables adorning the presiding deity at the Azhagar Temple in Saptur in Perayur taluk was missing, a case was registered.

Investigation by a special team revealed that a policeman, Pandiarajan, attached to neighbouring T. Kallupatti police station was involved.

According to the complaint, on June 26, when a casual worker of the temple was about to clean the premises in the morning she noticed the locks at the main entrance were broken. On information, the temple trustee S. N. K. Naicker complained to the police.

Discreet probe suggested that the policeman was the key accused.

As the police tightened checks in and around the district following the crime, the burglars were unable to smuggle out the idols.

Based on their confession, the team recovered the idols from the home of the key accused located in the same village.

The names of the arrested persons were given as T. Jayapandi of Mangalrevu and P. Krishnan alias Mayakrishnan of Kattareddipatti.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page