Tue Mar 11 17:55:27 UTC 2025: ## Two Women Arrested for Stealing Sacred Idols in Hyderabad
**Hyderabad, March 12, 2025** – Two women were arrested in Hyderabad on Tuesday for stealing two Panchaloha idols from Sri Vinayaka Temple in Gurumurthy Nagar. Adidala Swarna Latha, 29, and J. Pavani, 26, both residents of Banjara Hills, were apprehended by S.R. Nagar police following a complaint by the temple’s Executive Officer.
The theft was discovered by the temple priest, P. Naveen Kumar, who noticed the missing idols from the inner sanctum. The idols, made of the sacred Panchaloha alloy (gold, silver, copper, zinc, and iron), were reportedly stolen due to Swarna Latha’s belief that worshipping them would bring peace and stability following a series of personal tragedies. She had lost several close family members within two years and sought the advice of a religious figure who suggested idol worship. Unable to afford idols, she and her sister, Pavani, conspired to steal them from the temple.
Both women have been remanded to judicial custody. Police are urging temple authorities to improve security measures, including installing CCTV cameras, motion sensors, and alarms, as well as implementing stricter access control and encouraging community vigilance.
First Piper 