The Idol Wing Police, headed by Inspector General of Police Pon Manickavel, seized three panchaloha idols from a three-member gang in Pernampattu of Vellore district on Sunday night.
The idols of Valli, Murugan and Deivanai were stolen from Poomaalai Murugan temple at Ambur last year. The police team arrested the three — Easwaran, Arumugam and Gurusamy — when they came to sell the idols at Bunglamedu.
Mr. Mancikavel said based on a tip-off that a gang was attempting to sell the idols in Vellore, a special team visited Pernampattu and negotiated with the gang leader, who has been identified as Easwaran.
After the negotiation, the gang informed the police team which had gone in mufti to Bunglamedu to carry out the transaction. When two persons came in a car and another person on a two-wheeler, allegedly stolen, to Bunglamedu, the police team arrested them. The Idol Wing police recovered the three idols from the vehicle.
A case regarding the theft of three idols was filed in the Vellore district on October 8, 2017.
Mr. Manickavel said the Idol Wing is on the lookout for six others involved in the theft.
