Guru statue 'desecrated'

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, NOV. 19. A statue of Sree Narayana Guru installed by the Chathannur SNDP Union by the side of the National Highway, at Kalluvathukkal, was found damaged this morning.

The development led to tension in the area and a hartal was observed there in protest against the desecration.

In February 2000, in the wake of a series of attacks on Sree Narayana Guru statues, a statue installed at the same spot was desecrated. Then a new statue was installed there and that one has been found desecrated today.

An attempt has been made to ``take out the statue from the pedestal.'' The vandals seem to have used bricks to damage the face and the right ear of the statue has fallen off.

The damage was noticed by a woman who had gone there early in the morning to light a lamp. The Paripally police have registered a case and are investigating.

Meanwhile, the Chathannur SNDP Union has registered a strong protest against the development. The Union vice-president, Mr. L. Prathapan, said that while the case pertaining to the February 2000 attack remained unsolved, the Union expected better results from the police this time.

The Union organised a public meeting at Kalluvathukkal junction in the evening to protest against the desecration. The meeting was addressed by the Chathannur MLA, Mr. Pratapavarma Thampan, and the Yogam vice-president, Prof. G. Sathyan.

Meanwhile, the Kollam MP, Mr. P. Rajendran, has called for a high-level probe into the incident. Mr. Rajendran who visited the scene of the attack said that the motive of the culprits appeared to be aimed at disrupting communal harmony. He called upon the State Government to provide adequate security cover to Guru Deva statues.

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Section  : Southern States
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