After two burglars made a vain attempt to steal the precious ‘emerald’ Nataraja idol at Sri Mangalanathaswamy Temple in Thiru Uthirakosamangai, Inspector General (Idol Wing) Pon Manickavel inspected the temple on Wednesday and instructed the temple authorities to enhance security and the police to post armed guards.
Two burglars gained entry into the temple in the early hours of Sunday and attempted to take away the idol after attacking a temple security guard. They tried to break open the iron grill gates of Natarajar sannathi, but fled after the burglar alarm went off. The 1.8-metre-tall Natarajar idol, made of single deep green emerald stone, is considered to be very rare.
Following the burglary attempt, Mr. Pon Manickavel, accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ramanathapuram range) N. Kamini and Sivaganga Superintendent of Police T. Jayachandran, who is in-charge of Ramanathapuram district, reviewed security at the temple and suggested replacement of old grill gates and installation of modern security gadgets.
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He exuded confidence that the burglars would be nabbed within 10 days.
Ms. Kamini said the IG had given two months’ time to Ramanathapuram Samasthanam, which administered the temple, to enhance security by replacing the grill gates with iron gates and the existing locks with modern gadgets. Till then, armed police guards would be posted at the temple from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., she said. Armed police guards would also be posted at Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple in Tirupullani as suggested by the IG, she said.
V.K. Palanivel Pandian, Diwan of Ramanathapuram Samasthanam, who was present during the inspection, said R.B.K. Raja Rajeswari Nachiyar, trustee of the Samasthanam, was keen on implementing the suggestions made by the IG at the earliest at an estimated cost of ₹ 15 lakh. He said 24 additional CCTV cameras would be installed at the Thiru Uthirakosamangai temple this week.
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