The Idol Wing CID, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, U.S., has traced a stone idol of Lord Murugan, which was stolen from a 7th Century Pallava-era temple at Thachur in Kallakurichi district and smuggled into the United States.
Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP), Idol Wing, Shailesh Kumar Yadav, told The Hindu that the Idol Wing CID launched an investigation on a complaint preferred by S. Periyasamy. According to the complainant, the ancient Shiva temple had 13 stone idols of various deities. Much of the temple was destroyed during invasions by Malik Kafur and other Mughal kings. Portions of the structure had disintegrated, and were buried. However, some of the idols were lying on the ground. In 1998, the villagers resumed worship of the idols in the dilapidated temple. The idol of Lord Murugan was stolen from there in 2000. However, no complaint was lodged at the time.
On hearing about the recovery and restitution of three idols which had been stolen from Adhikesava Perumal Temple in Ulundurpet, Mr. Periyasamy lodged a complaint on August 3 and urged the Idol Wing to trace the idol stolen from the temple in Thachur.
