Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
CHENNAI, INDIA, June 27, 2009: In the last year alone, more than half a dozen burglaries and thefts have been reported in temples and churches in and around Chennai.
The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) has installed close-circuit video and burglar alarms in many temples and deployed temple protection forces; but this has had little impact on the thefts. Thefts continue in the state capital itself. The temple protection force comprises roughly 3,000 people statewide, but many of these are aged and cannot provide proper security.
The above measures cannot protect antique deities in remote villages, so the HR&CE is setting up murti-storing centers all over the state. “Temple authorities have been asked to use these centers to keep their Deities in safe custody. At the time of festival, the temple managements receive their Deity and once the festival is over, they return them to these centers. The HR&CE has made arrangements to perform daily pujas for all Deities in its custody,” said an official.