Rs 2 lakh gold jewellery stolen from Kaliamman temple near Mettur

An audacious theft took place at a Kaliamman temple near Mettur in Salem district, where unidentified miscreants broke open the temple lock and stole gold jewellery worth about Rs 2 lakh, including the sacred thali from the deity’s neck, triggering shock and anger among devotees.
The incident occurred at the Kaliamman Temple located near the twin wells on the Mecheri–Pennagaram Road.
In the early hours of Saturday, the burglars first switched off the temple’s power supply and broke the glowing electric bulb
outside.
They then allegedly took an iron lever from a nearby parked lorry and used it to break open the temple’s main lock.
Police said the thieves removed a one-sovereign gold thali from the goddess’s neck and also stole a garland of gold coins weighing about one sovereign, which had been offered by devotees.
The total value of the stolen jewellery is estimated to be around Rs 2 lakh. Following a complaint, the Mecheri police registered a case and launched an intensive hunt for the culprits. CCTV footage from the Mecheri–Pennagaram road is being examined to track the movement of the suspects.
Fingerprint experts have also been pressed into service to collect forensic evidence from the temple premises.
The daring theft from a temple situated on a busy main road has created widespread tension and concern among the residents of the
area.