Police launch manhunt after Hanuman idol stolen at Tirumala
Tirupati police have launched a manhunt for an unidentified individual who stole a Hanuman idol from the Tirumala-Tirupati ghat road. Authorities have released CCTV footage and are seeking public assistance to identify the suspect.
Why it matters
The theft of religious artifacts in sensitive pilgrimage areas often triggers significant public concern and requires swift law enforcement action.
A one-foot-tall Hanuman stone idol, consecrated by devotees near the towering Hanuman statue at the Seventh Mile on the Tirumala-Tirupati downhill ghat road, was allegedly stolen by an unidentified offender in the early hours of Wednesday. Sensing the gravity of the offence, the Tirupati district police issued a lookout notice and launched a massive search for the culprit.
Upon verifying the CCTV footage it was found that, the suspect was reportedly wearing a Govinda mala and dressed in light yellow attire. He also spoke Telugu with a Rayalaseema accent, carried two mobile phones and a scarf, bereft of any luggage.
Police said the man boarded a jeep at PAC-5 in Tirumala on Wednesday, halted briefly near the Seventh Mile Hanuman statue, and later alighted near the Alipiri footpath entrance before leaving the area.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in