Sullia : Utsava murthi (processional idol), gold and silver ornaments of the Marakata Durgaparameshwari temple, away from Kukke Subrahmanya, were allegedly stolen in the early hours on Friday.

Many devotees who go to the Kukke Subrahmanya temple visit this temple too.

According to the police, the door on the north side of the temple was found broken open and the closed circuit cameras in the temple damaged.

In a complaint to the police Venkataramana Gowda, a representative of the temple management, put the value of the stolen articles at Rs 3 lakh.

Superintendent of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C.H. said that the theft looks to be the work of a professional gang.

The accused may have carried out a recce before striking at the temple. A team of the Subrahmanya police has launched a search for the accused, he said.