BJP activists on Friday staged a demonstration at the Ajantha Theatre junction against the delay by Vedapureeswarar Temple authorities in registering a complaint with police regarding the hundred-year-old ‘Sekandi’ (bell used during poojas) that went missing from the temple on April 13. Twenty-five activists were arrested.
BJP State president Visweswaran said that the bell, weighing between 15 and 20 kilos, disappeared on the eve of Tamil New Year Day (April 13). He questioned that how on a day when the temple was thronged by hundreds of devotees, and nearly 40 officials, including security personnel, were monitoring the activities, the bell went missing without anybody noticing it.
Visweswaran alleged that when he sought details of CCTV camera footage of the day, the temple officials told him that the cameras were switched off. He added that he had sought the reason for the delay in registering a police complaint, but to no avail.
Visweswaran said that BJP would resort to protests across the UT demanding action against those involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, Executive Officer (EO) of the temple Dhananjayan said that the ‘Sekandi’, made of panchaloha, was found missing around 10.30 pm on April 13. The temple authorities made preliminary inquiries into incident, he added.
The EO said that a complaint had been lodged with the Grand Bazaar police on Friday and efforts to trace the missing bell were being made.