Police launch manhunt after Hanuman idol stolen at Tirumala

A meter-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 criminal in the early hours of Wednesday. Sensing the seriousness of the crime, Tirupati district police issued a lookout alert and launched a massive search to find the culprit.

Upon verification of the CCTV footage, it was stated that the suspect was wearing a Govinda mala and a light yellow outfit. He also spoke Telugu with a Rayalaseema accent, carried two mobile phones and a scarf, and had no luggage.

Police said the man boarded a jeep at PAC-5 in Tirumala on Wednesday, stopped briefly near the Seventh Mile Hanuman statue and then got down near the Alipiri footpath entrance before leaving the area.

Appealing to the public for help, Tirupati police released the photograph of the suspect (excerpts from the images) and asked them to forward any information regarding his whereabouts to SDPO, Tirumala (9440796768), SHO, Tirumala II Town Police Station (9440796772) or SI, Tirumala I Town Police Station (9440796771).

The police also assured that the identities of the informants would be kept secret.