Madurantakam, Sept 3:
A rare emerald idol of Lord Murugan, believed to be worth several crores of rupees, was stolen from the Sri Maragatha Bala Dhandayuthapani Murugan Temple at Perunkarunai village near Maduranthagam in Chengalpattu district in the early hours of Wednesday.
The temple is popularly known among devotees as Nadu Palani and is known for its presiding deity ā a rare green-coloured idol made entirely of emerald.
The idol is nearly two-and-a-half feet tall and is considered the principal attraction of the temple. Large numbers of devotees visit the shrine during major festivals such as Panguni Uthiram, Sashti and Thaipusam.
Given the enormous value and religious significance of the idol, the temple authorities had taken several security measures.
The sanctum sanctorum had been protected by three heavy security doors. An alarm system and CCTV cameras had also been installed.
However, the burglars managed to breach all three security doors during the early hours of Wednesday.
According to police, the intruders also disconnected the alarm system before entering the sanctum and stealing the emerald idol.
The burglars are suspected to have used spray paint to obstruct the CCTV cameras and prevent the surveillance system from capturing their movements.
The theft came to light when priests and temple administrators arrived at the shrine on Wednesday morning and found that the idol was missing.
The Sithamur police immediately launched an investigation. Senior police officials from Chengalpattu also inspected the temple premises.
Forensic experts examined the site and collected fingerprints and other possible clues. A sniffer dog was deployed as part of the investigation.
The Chengalpattu district police have formed two special teams to trace the suspects and recover the idol.
Investigators are examining the possibility that the theft could have been carried out by an organised idol-smuggling gang. Police are also looking into whether a gang from outside Tamil Nadu, including a suspected north Indian network, could be involved.
The possibility of the idol being targeted because of its high monetary value and potential demand in the illegal antique-idol trade is also being examined.
The theft has caused concern among devotees, particularly because the temple had multiple layers of security around the sanctum.