Panchaloha idols and kalasams stolen from temple near Arani

According to sources, the priest after the regular puja at the Somanatheswarar temple, at Velleri village near Arani on Wednesday night had locked the temple and had taken the keys with him. When the priest came and opened the temple on Thursday morning, he was shocked to find the lock tampered with and doors broken open.

On a thorough check of the sanctum sanctorum, the priest found that panchaloha idols of Sivan and Amman, both measuring two-and—half-feet in height were missing along with Amman’s thali (mangalsutra) and a silver chain from Lord Sivan’s neck.

Besides these, four kalasams from the temple gopuram were also missing. On information from temple authorities, Arani taluk police rushed to the spot and conducted inquiries.

A case has been registered and further investigations are on.

It may be recalled that miscreants broke into the same temple two years ago and decamped with cash from the hundi.