15 kg Bronze Idol Stolen from Kerala Temple in Overnight Heist

Thieves made off with a 15 kg panchaloha idol from a temple in Kunnamkulam, Kerala, in a carefully planned overnight heist that evaded electronic surveillance. The bronze artifact disappeared sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning, when the theft was discovered during the temple's opening.

Investigators found that the perpetrator had deliberately obstructed the temple's closed-circuit television cameras by draping silk cloth over them, preventing any video documentation of the crime. The methodical nature of the approach suggests premeditation and possible familiarity with the temple's security infrastructure.

Temple authorities immediately reported the incident to local police, who have launched an investigation into the burglary. The panchaloha idol, a religious artifact traditionally crafted from five metals, holds both spiritual and monetary value. Officers are examining whether the theft was carried out by a single individual or an organized group targeting heritage religious sites in the region.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about security at temples and religious institutions across Kerala. Authorities said additional measures, including enhanced CCTV monitoring and increased night-time vigilance, would be implemented at vulnerable sites to prevent similar incidents.