Arrests follow night-time thefts and vandalism across Malayinkeezhu temples
Thiruvananthapuram police have arrested two youths in connection with a string of thefts and vandalism at three temples and an attempted house burglary in the Malayinkeezhu area. Authorities said 20-year-old Ajith of Thembamuttam and 19-year-old Ajay of Kallikkad were detained late on Sunday after being traced near the Thiruvananthapuram railway station.
The investigation, led by Kattakkada DySP Binu, relied on closed-circuit television recordings and scientific evidence collected from the crime scenes, police said. Fingerprint experts attended the locations and samples were seized for analysis, according to official accounts.
- Locations affected: Althara Bhagavathy Temple, Vilavoorkal Varuviilakam Sivanageswari (Sivanageswara) Temple, Irattakalunku Durga Bhagavathy Temple and a private residence in Pidaram.
- Mode of operation: At one temple the power supply was cut to disable cameras and the south gate lock was forcibly removed.
- Items taken and damage: Offerings, daily collections and a free-meal donation box were taken from one temple; a sound system was removed from another; office windows and kitchen/store rooms were vandalised.
Police said the suspects carried out the first burglary at the Althara Bhagavathy Temple, where they cut power to the premises, damaged a gate and ransacked the kitchen, committee office and storeroom. Money from offerings and the donation box meant for free meals was taken, the official report stated.
At the Vilavoorkal Varuviilakam Sivanageswari Temple, CCTV footage captured two persons entering with a bag. The intruders damaged doors and cameras there but were apparently thwarted from stealing anything. In the case of the Irattakalunku Durga Bhagavathy Temple, the thieves forced entry by breaking a trust office window and took a sound system, leaving a knife behind.
| Place | Reported action | Items/Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Althara Bhagavathy Temple | Power supply cut; forced entry | Offerings, daily collections, free-meal donation box; kitchen and office ransacked |
| Vilavoorkal Varuviilakam Sivanageswari Temple | CCTV showed intruders; cameras and doors smashed | No theft reported; damage to infrastructure |
| Irattakalunku Durga Bhagavathy Temple | Window smashed; entry gained | Sound system stolen; knife left at scene |
| Private house, Pidaram (Murukesan) | Attempted break-in | Entry attempt; no confirmed theft reported |
"Police officials confirmed they will take strict legal action against the arrested youths."
Investigating officers said the Malayinkeezhu police received separate complaints from temple committees and the resident whose house was targeted. The team then examined the CCTV footage from the temples and surrounding areas and used forensic inputs to track the suspects to the railway station, where they were apprehended.
No further details on whether the youths have made statements or the precise value of the stolen property were provided in the immediate reports. Police said recovery efforts and a detailed forensic examination are ongoing.
Local temple committees expressed concern over the incidents, which occurred at night and involved deliberate attempts to disable surveillance systems. The events have renewed calls from community members for better night-time lighting, secured locks and more frequent police patrols around places of worship.
The Kattakkada deputy superintendent and the Malayinkeezhu police are preparing case files to present to the magistrate. Further charges will be framed on completion of the forensic analysis and investigation, officials said.
Thiruvananthapuram residents and temple trustees are watching the progress of the inquiry closely, given the cultural and social sensitivity surrounding thefts from places of worship. Police have urged anyone with additional information or private CCTV footage from the area to come forward to assist the probe.
