The metal entrance way to the iconic Hindu temple, Thiruketheeswaram, was the vandalised by a group believed to be Christian fundamentalists, the day before the festival of Maha Sivarathiri today.
Temple devotees had been carrying out refurbishment works on the temple grounds. The devotees were replacing the old entrance way, which had been affected with rust when the group accompanied by a man dressed in Christian stole arrived. The group argued against the erection of the replacement entrance way and proceeded to pull the newly erected metal structure down to the ground.
Devotees criticised the police who arrived after the group had vandalised the structure.
In a case heard at the Mannar court today, the judge granted temple representatives permission to re-erect the entrance way.
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