18 stone idols found abandoned

Seven Amman idols, two snake idols, two sacrificial altars and idols of lingam, lord Ayyappa, Garuda, peocock and Nandi were found abandoned under the Seven Wells bridge on Kolkata-Chennai highway in Elavaur village near Gummidipoondi. These idols measure 1 to 1.5 feet in height. 

Locals noticed the idols and alerted Elavur Village Administrative Officer Arul. He informed Gummidipoondi tahsildar and the Arambakkam police and visited the spot. After inspection, the idols were taken to the tahsildar’s office. Further inquiry is on to ascertain how these idols ended up under the bridge and whether any smuggling racket is involved.   

Meanwhile, an advocate has lodged a complaint that the Somaskandar idol kept at the famous lord Murugan temple has been stolen and the one kept there now is a replica. Sridharan on September 13 lodged the complaint with Kancheepuram Police Superintendent who forwarded it to the idol wing. In 2017, a devotee complained at the HR&CE department that the old idol has been missing. But a few days later, the idol returned to the temple mysteriously. Now, with the allegations that it is not the original idol, the idol wing is expected to take up the case for further probe.