Kozhikode City, Kerala, June 12 – In a significant breakthrough, the Panthirangavu Police have arrested Harikrishnan (38), a resident of Antiyalankavu Mathathil, Kappur, in Palakkad district, who has been accused of stealing a gold necklace from the idol of Lord Vishnu at the historic Sree Vishnu Temple in Panthirangavu.
According to police sources, the theft was reported a few days ago when temple authorities noticed that a valuable gold chain adorning the idol had gone missing during the early morning rituals. The incident triggered concern among devotees and temple officials, prompting the police to initiate a detailed investigation under the supervision of senior officers.
Acting on specific leads and intelligence inputs, the investigating team zeroed in on the suspect, Harikrishnan, who was said to have visited the temple premises under the guise of a devotee. It is believed that he had been observing the temple routine and security arrangements for several days before executing the theft. The accused has a history of theft-related cases and is known to target places of worship and public gatherings where gold ornaments are displayed.
During the course of interrogation, Harikrishnan reportedly confessed to having stolen the ornament, and police are now working to recover the stolen item, which is estimated to be worth several lakhs. Efforts are also being made to verify if the accused is connected to any similar temple thefts reported in the region recently.
The Panthirangavu Police team has been praised for their swift and meticulous investigation, which led to the arrest. The accused was produced before the Judicial Magistrate Court and has been remanded to custody for further questioning.
The theft had caused considerable distress among the local devotees, as the stolen ornament was not just of material value but also held significant religious and emotional importance. The temple, known for its deep spiritual heritage and community significance, had never before experienced such a breach in recent memory.
Temple officials have now urged the police to enhance patrolling and security, especially during early morning and night hours. They have also appealed to the Devaswom Board to install modern surveillance systems, including high-definition CCTV cameras, to deter such incidents in the future.
The incident serves as a wake-up call for temple administrations across the state to review and strengthen their security infrastructure to safeguard sacred and valuable temple assets.
