An emerald idol of Lord Murugan has been stolen from the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Maragadha Bala Dhandayuthapani Murugan Temple at Perukaranai village near Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district.
The theft reportedly took place in the early hours of Wednesday, when unidentified persons broke into the hilltop temple and removed the idol.
According to The New Indian Express, the idol is around 2¼ feet tall, though its exact value has not yet been ascertained. The temple is popularly known as Nadu Palani and is managed by a private trust.
The temple is located on a hill at Perukaranai village. According to Daily Thanthi, devotees refer to it as Nadu Palani because it is situated between the Vadapalani Murugan Temple in Chennai and the Palani Murugan Temple.
The sanctum was secured by three iron doors and was equipped with security sirens and CCTV cameras. Despite these security measures, the thieves allegedly managed to break into the temple and take the idol.
The theft came to light on Wednesday morning when temple priests and administrators arrived and found the idol missing.
The temple authorities subsequently lodged a complaint with the police. The Chithamur police reached the spot and began investigating the incident. Two special teams have been formed to identify and arrest those responsible.
The stolen idol is made of emerald and is believed to be highly valuable. It is reported that its value could range from several lakhs of rupees to crores, although no official valuation has been made so far.
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