Two temple guards were hacked to death during a shocking robbery at the Nachadai Thavirtharuliya Swamy Temple in Devadanam, near Rajapalayam, late Monday night.
The attack has triggered widespread outrage and demands for swift justice in the region.
According to police sources, a gang of unidentified men broke into the ancient temple, managed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, targeting the temple’s donation box (hundi).
During their attempted theft, they encountered night watchmen — Pechimuthu (50) and Sankarapandian (65) — who tried to resist. In response, the intruders violently assaulted the two guards with sharp weapons, killing them on the spot.
The gang also damaged several CCTV cameras and took away the digital video recorder (DVR) to destroy evidence before making off with cash and valuable jewellery from the temple. The crime came to light when the morning guard, Madasamy, arrived and found the bodies, immediately alerting temple authorities and the police.
Police have formed multiple special teams and deployed forensic experts to investigate the brutal murders and robbery. Relatives of the victims and local residents staged a protest, demanding justice and refused to accept the bodies until arrests are made.
Opposition leaders including AIADMK’s Edappadi K. Palaniswami and BJP state chief have condemned the incident, holding the Stalin-led government responsible for lapse in maintaining law and order.
The Nachadai Thavirtharuliya Swamy Temple, an important religious and historical site, remains a point of tension and grief, as local authorities step up efforts to ensure safety and apprehend those behind the grisly attack.