Sabarimala temple flag post damaged, five arrested


Sabarimala (Kerala), Jun 25 (IANS): Five people were arrested on charges of damaging a new gold-coated flag post consecrated only on Sunday afternoon at the famed Sabarimala temple here in Kerala.

CCTV cameras identified the culprits, who were caught by the temple guards. After preliminary interrogation, five people from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh were taken into custody.

The new flag post was donated by a business group from Andhra Pradesh. It reportedly cost Rs 3.5 crore.

It was on Sunday that it was consecrated by the priests in the presence of State Devasom Minister Kadakampally Surendran and other Devasom officials.

"This is something really sad and unfortunate. We are told mercury dipped in a cloth was thrown on the lower portion of the flag post and it got damaged," Surendran told reporters at the temple.

Situated on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 914 metres above sea level, the Sabarimala temple is four kilometres uphill from Pamba in Pathanamthitta district, which is around 100 km from the Kerala capital.

CCTV visuals that have been released show a white piece of cloth being thrown at the foot of the flag post. Soon, the gold coating peels off because of chemical reaction.

According to the visuals, a person aged around 65 years hurled the mercury-dipped cloth while two others standing close by caught the incident on their mobile camera.

The police seized a bottle containing mercury from the bag of one of those in custody.

Police believe the reason for the crime may be business rivalry. The attackers were believed to be ranged against the business group which paid for the flag post.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Jun 26 2017

    Thank God no minorities are involved ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Leslie, udupi

    Sun, Jun 25 2017

    Life against life...
    Is the ultimate reality of life...
    God or devil does nothing without reason...
    However human needs no reason...

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 25 2017

    All these things are happening after 2014. This is a well thought out plan and they have used some out of state thugs. Create disturbance and unstable atmosphere to gain control is BJP hall mark.

    DisAgree [18] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Mon, Jun 26 2017

    This is handiwork of miscreants. Do not try to bring out your utter inner frustrations on Modi & BJP here

    DisAgree [10] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sadanand, Udipi / Mumbai

    Mon, Jun 26 2017

    J. Anata,
    Sorry ,, we cannot change some ill mentality people who gives any religion color or any ill reason for everything to prove their foolishness and venoming the society.. God bless these kind of people.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ravi C, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 26 2017

    Everyone knows who mix religion in everything and try to divide this beautiful country in the name of religion...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Report Abuse

  • Ramesh Babu, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 26 2017

    Jhanta you are commenting as if you are involved in all this type of activity.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Sabarimala temple flag post damaged, five arrested



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