Rs 77 crore worth 8 idols from 3 temples stolen
Representational image
CHENNAI: The idol wing sleuths of Tamil Nadu police are now on the lookout for 11 persons, including a college student from Chennai, in connection with the theft of Rs 77 crore worth eight idols from three temples in Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district. On Wednesday, police arrested a movie-maker V. Sekar, for being part of a big network of the idol thieves, transporters and dealers.
“Every member of the temple raiders gang has very specified roles to perform. While Sekar kept the stolen idols in safe custody, another group transported it safely while few others scout for international buyers. Another group identifies the vulnerable temples from where they can loot ancient idols. A four-member team led by a person from Virudhunagar executes the loot,” sources said.
In May, sleuths had arrested Dhanalingalm, a cinema production executive from Kollywood in connection with the seizure and recovery of eight idols of later Chola period. Sekar was the fourth person to be arrested in connection with the seizure of the high value idols.
The idols of Perumal, Siva & Parvathi on a single pedestal, Parvathi, and Umayal Parameshwari belonged to the 10th century and Vishnu, Sridevi, Bhoodevi, and Chakrathalwar belonged to 13th century.
The police believe that the same gang, comprising 15 men, were involved in idol thefts from three temples, including one in Mayiladuthurai from where a very high value idol of Nataraja was stolen.
Unless the Hindu religious & charitable endowment department initiates process to identify every idol with metallic engravings, the temple raiders are going to go ahead with looting ancient arts, the police officer said. Foreign buyers will not touch the idol if there is metallic engraving declaring the ownership, he added.
Idols disappear in a flash:
The gang, which is currently operating in the state is believed to be depending on high tech machinery to break into temples and get away with idols. “They can complete the process in less than 10 minutes. The gang will be armed with hi tech drilling machines and gas cutters. Once the gang identifies the temple, the four member squad headed by Virudhunagar man, who had been in and out of jail a couple of times, proceeds with his team mates, hailing from Chennai. Using gas cutters and drilling machines, they enter the sanctum sanctorum remove the idol and return in a waiting vehicle,” an idol wing official said.
Sekar moves court for bail:
A day after his arrest in an alleged idol theft case, noted Tamil film director V. Sekar filed a bail petition before a magistrate court at Moore Market here on Thursday. On Wednesday, Sekar, who also runs a production house, Thiruvalluvar Kalaikoodam, was arrested for his alleged links with those who had stolen eight idols from three ancient temples in Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district.
After arrest, Sekar had been detained at Puzhal prison. The II Metropolitan Magistrate, R.Sathya, before whom the bail petition came up, ordered notice to police returnable by August 17 and adjourned the matter.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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