hengannur: Controversial ‘iridium’ dome stolen from temple

Thursday, October 20, 2011: The dome of the Muthavazhi Subramanian Swami Temple at Pandanad near Chengannur, which hit headlines three years back following claims that it contained iridium, a metal 80 times less abundant than silver and the annual global production of which is less than three tonnes, has been reported stolen on Thursday.

 

The temple had started drawing visitors and researchers in droves after the temple administration committee claimed in 2008 that “foreign dealers” had approached them, saying that a “German-based firm had satellite images which confirmed presence of iridium” in the temple’s dome. The dealers, the committee had claimed, came in separate groups, offering prices ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh and even Rs.1 crore, for the dome.

The resulting furore saw various inspections including by the State Archaeology Department and an increased police security, along with security arranged by the temple committee too, for the dome.
However, on Thursday around 7 a.m., nearby locals saw that the dome was missing and immediately alerted the police, who are now investigating the scene. Preliminary indications are that thieves broke into the temple from its western side and from inside the temple, removed the roof-tiles before making away with the dome.

Interestingly, police sources said there was a Special Branch alert just two days back, warning the local police station and the temple authorities too, of a possible attempt at stealing the dome.
The temple is said to have been constructed 1,700 to 2,000 years back, though there are no documents to prove this. A few researchers who visited the temple following the controversy in 2008 are learnt to have said that iridium could have been used for constructing the dome in an indirect manner, since traces of the metal can be found in alloys with raw copper or raw nickel.