'Ancient gold' discovered during temple renovation

Villagers stumbled upon "ancient gold" during the renovation of a temple in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, and it was seized by authorities and deposited with the government treasury despite the locals protesting against it, officials said. During the renovation of a temple of Lord Shiva taken up by the villagers themselves, "gold items", said to be weighing over half a kg, were found beneath the steps leading to the sanctum sanctorum a few days ago. Officials, on receiving information about the treasure, reached the temple, asked the villages to hand over the gold to the government. While devotees and local people declined to part with it as they wanted to place the gold again at the very same spot after completion of the renovation, authorities were firm on taking it, the officials said. After talks failed, officials deployed adequate police force and seized the gold from the villagers and deposited with the government treasury.