Thekkeppuram Makkalikkavu Temple idol stolen in Thrissur

Thieves executed a carefully planned burglary at the Thekkeppuram Makkalikkavu Temple in Kunnamkulam, Thrissur district, stealing a 15-kilogramme Panchaloha idol and a sacred silver conch. The theft is believed to have occurred late Thursday night or in the early hours of Friday.

To evade detection, the perpetrators allegedly covered the temple's CCTV camera lenses with silk cloth. The crime was discovered when the temple's chief priest arrived in the morning to open the sanctum sanctorum for routine rituals and found the primary deity missing.

Kunnamkulam police have launched an investigation, focusing on whether the thieves had prior knowledge of the temple's security layout. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage from surrounding roads and establishments to track the suspects' movements.