A panchaloha idol was stolen from the Maakkaalikavu Bhagavathy Temple in Kunnamkulam, Kerala, early on Friday morning, police said. The idol, weighing about 15 kilograms and several years old, is made from an alloy of five metals.
The theft was discovered when temple priests arrived to open the shrine. Investigators report that the suspect covered a CCTV camera with a silk cloth to obscure the footage and also concealed his face, making visual identification difficult.
Police are reviewing CCTV recordings from surrounding areas and have inspected the temple premises as part of the inquiry. They are also looking into individuals with a history of idol theft and those suspected of selling stolen idols to antique dealers.
Authorities noted that two other theft incidents occurred at temples in Kaipamangalam and Mannampetta earlier in the week, where money, deity ornaments and metal lamps were taken. Police are examining whether these events are linked and involve the same perpetrator.
