Kunnamkulam: Police have launched an investigation following a high-profile burglary at the Thekkeppuram Makkalikkavu Temple in Kunnamkulam, Thrissur district, where thieves made off with an ancient Panchaloha idol weighing approximately 15 kilogrammes along with a sacred silver conch.

The crime was discovered early on Friday morning when the temple's chief priest arrived to open the sanctum sanctorum for routine daily rituals. Upon noticing the missing sacred items, temple authorities immediately alerted the police.

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According to local law enforcement, the burglary was carefully calculated. The perpetrators deliberately obstructed the primary CCTV surveillance equipment inside the temple premises by wrapping silk cloth over the camera lenses to conceal their identities before seizing the sanctum's primary deity idol and ritual accoutrements.

Authorities are currently on the hunt for the culprits to recover the stolen valuables.