Temple security in Tamil Nadu has come under scrutiny after a rare and priceless emerald stone-carved murti of Bhagwan Murugan was stolen from a temple near Chennai in the early hours of September 2. The burglars reportedly disabled the alarm system and tampered with CCTV cameras before entering the sanctum sanctorum.
The theft has shocked devotees, with the incident raising concerns over the security of Hindu temples and their murtis, particularly as the burglars appeared to have knowledge of the temple’s security arrangements.
A nearly 2¼-foot-tall emerald murti of Bhagwan Murugan was stolen from the sanctum sanctorum of the Maragadha Bala Dhandayuthapani Murugan Temple at Perukaranai village near Madurantakam-Acharappak in the early hours of September 2. The value of the idol has not yet been ascertained.
The thieves, after disabling the alarm and spraying foam over the CCTV cameras, entered the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is popularly known as “Nadu Palani” or “Middle Palani”, as it is located between Palani in Dindigul and Vadapalani in Chennai.
The temple is managed by a private trust and is situated atop a hill, with devotees accessing it through a flight of steps. The rare emerald murti was brought from Mysuru and installed at the temple in 2008 by the Ganapathy Sachidananda Swamigal Trust of Mysuru.
According to locals and Chitamur police, access to the temple was protected by three heavy security doors and iron shutters, besides an alarm system designed to go off in the event of an intrusion. CCTV cameras had also been installed at strategic points around the temple.
Police suspect that the burglars may have been familiar with the temple’s security arrangements, possibly after gaining knowledge of them while visiting the temple as devotees.
According to police sources, the burglars climbed a huge statue behind the temple to gain access through a rear entrance and subsequently made their way towards the sanctum. They broke through three secured iron entrances before reaching the Garba Griha.
The tech-savvy burglars reportedly disconnected the wires connected to the alarm system to silence it. They also sprayed paint over the CCTV cameras to prevent their identities and movements from being captured.
The burglars then removed the murti from its pedestal and escaped at around 1.30 am on the night of Tuesday-early Wednesday. The temple’s lone security guard reportedly remained on the ground floor and conducted rounds of the premises.
The burglary came to light the next morning when the archaka and temple management staff arrived to open the temple for the day’s activities. They found the idol missing, the doors broken and the security alarm silent.
On hearing about the incident and following a complaint, police visited the temple along with forensic experts. A case has been registered and an investigation is under way to trace and apprehend the burglars.
Police have collected CCTV footage from the temple, roads and other locations in an effort to identify the suspects.
It is also learnt that the temple archaka allegedly did not switch on the burglar alarm that night, which may have aided the burglars.
Police are investigating whether an inter-state gang involved in targeting unmanned ATMs, temples and isolated houses, or an organised murti-smuggling network, could be behind the theft. Special teams have been formed to apprehend those involved.
Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran on September 3 demanded the immediate recovery of the murti of Bhagwan Murugan stolen from the Dhandayudhapani Swamy Temple in Perungaranai and warned of a major protest if the government failed to act.
In a statement, he said the theft of the precious murti, along with silver articles, had shocked devotees. He alleged that repeated thefts of murtis from Hindu temples exposed the failure of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department and the police to ensure their security.
He accused CM Joseph Vijayy of failing to provide adequate security and modern surveillance systems at temples.
Former MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, in a post on X, expressed shock over the burglary of an emerald idol reportedly worth several crores. She said a Kanchi seer had named the temple Nadu Palani because of its location.
Srinivasan said there was no adequate security and safety for the public, temples and their murtis, and described it as a sorry state of affairs under the TVK government. She also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi bringing back stolen and smuggled idols from foreign nations during his visits, while alleging that the state government was allowing burglars to loot temples. She urged the government to arrest those involved.
The incident has also prompted devotees to question the security arrangements at temples. They have asked how the government can ensure the safety of mobile phones collected from devotees before they enter temples if it cannot protect temple idols and other properties.
Previous emerald idol thefts
In June 2017, an emerald murti dating back nearly 400 years was stolen from the Suyambeeswarar Temple in Thiruporur, nearly 50 km from Chennai.
In 2018, a rare emerald lingam, or maragadha lingam, was reported missing from the Thyagaraja Swamy Temple, which falls under the Thirukkuvalai police station limits. The lingam was subsequently recovered from one Arun Baskar of Thanjavur.
