The priest and member of Athi Lingeswaran temple were released on bail yesterday after they were arrested by Nedunkeni police.
Nedunkeni police summoned the priest and temple member yesterday for further investigations relating to the vandalism of the Athi Lingeswaran temple in March but were later arrested and taken to Vavuniya Magistrate court where the judge presiding over the case released them on bail.
In March, the Athi Lingam consecrated to Lord Siva in Vedukkunaari hill in Nedunkeni, Vavuniya was destroyed and discarded in the shrubbery surrounding the temple. Additionally many idols such as the idols of Pillaiyaar, the Mother Goddess Amman, and village deity Bhairavar were stolen from the temple.
The judge clarified that, contradictory to what was reported in the media earlier, while the police has to provide security for the poojas and to the worshippers at the temple, no restorations or changes are to be made to the temple itself.
The judge once again reiterated to the police to conduct the necessary further investigations in order to arrest those who had vandalised and destroyed the temple.