A rare Panchaloha idol of Amman was stolen from the Chelliamman temple in Vichoor village near Manali New Town, on Wednesday.
Police said around 6.30 a.m., a few pedestrians saw that the main door of the temple was broken. They immediately alerted the police, who rushed there.
The main idol of Amman made of five metals – gold, silver, copper, lead and brass, was missing. The idol weighed around 100 kg and was about 2.5 feet tall. It was dated to the 11th century.
Based on a complaint lodged by village administrator, K. Chellakumar, a case of theft has been filed. Police suspect at least two burglars were involved in the crime, as the idol could not have been lifted by a single person.
“The temple was shut around 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Since it is an ancient temple, daily rituals were not performed here,” said Mr. Chellakumar.
