Man ‘hugs’ Punjab temple idol, held

PATIALA: A 23-year-old man farmer has been arrested for allegedly hugging a idol at a Kali Devi temple in Punjab’s Patiala. Rajdeep from Nain Kalan village has been remanded in police custody for seven days.
The incident took place at 2.10 pm on Monday when the accused jumped the steel fencing and hugged the idol.
The accused was immediately overpowered by the pandit. A day after the controversy, various politicians visited the temple and condemned the incident, besides seeking exemplary punishment for the accused involved in other alleged sacrilege cases in Punjab.
A few Hindu organisations conducted a protest march in the city in protest against the incident and sought a thorough probe.
The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the IPC, including hurting religious sentiments, and was placed under arrest for further interrogation. The police said his motive was yet be ascertained.
“Going by the statements of the accused, it seems he is mentally unstable. The man had also hugged women devotees before hugging the idol. We had held a meeting with the temple management and are carrying out a thorough probe in the matter,” said SP (city) Harpal Singh.