Man arrested for desecrating deity at Karaikal Kailasanathar Temple

KARAIKAL: A 32-year-old youth has been arrested by the Karaikal town police following the desecration of a 'Nagar' (snake deity) idol at the famous Kailasanathar Temple in Karaikal.

The incident came to light when devotees visiting the temple discovered that the Nagar idol, situated at the eastern entrance of the temple, had been desecrated with human waste smeared over it. The act caused severe shock and distress among the local devotees, after which the idol was immediately cleaned and purified.The temple executive officer, K Vinayagamoorthy, filed a formal complaint with the Karaikal town police.

Upon reviewing the temple's CCTV camera footage, the police spotted a suspicious individual arriving at the temple on a bicycle around midnight. The footage clearly captured the man kicking the idol with his foot and smearing human waste on it before fleeing the scene.Based on the surveillance footage, police identified and apprehended the suspect, identified as A Arasu, 32, of the Kovilpathu area in Karaikal. During interrogation, Arasu confessed to the crime. He said he committed the act out of sheer frustration and anger toward god due to his inability to find employment. Police records also revealed that Arasu hadtwo prior theft cases registered against him. He was produced before the Karaikal court and subsequently remanded in judicial custody.