Youth held for posting obscene pictures with sculptures in TN temple

A 22-year-old man was arrested on Saturday by Trichy police in Tamil Nadu for posting obscene pictures he had clicked with ancient sculptures of women, a thousand-year-old architecture in Thanjavur Brihadeeswara temple.

Tiruchirappalli (TN): The Trichy police have arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly taking pictures by posing 'inappropriately' with sculptures at the famous Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur and posting them on social media.

Reportedly, the police officials arrested the youth after several Hindu devotees, heritage enthusiasts and activists complained over the sacrilege of idols at one of India’s greatest and oldest temples.

A case had been registered against him for behaving in "obscene and inappropriate manner" in public apart from posting the images on social media, police said.

Investigations were on to find out why the man chose to visit the temple, where non-Hindus are not allowed, they said.

More than 1000-year-old Brihadeeswara temple, popularly known as Big Temple, was built by Chola king Raja.

After city resident Rathinavelu lodged a complaint with Police Commissioner A Amalraj, police traced the mobile phone of Rahman, staying at the house of his relative, and arrested him.

“Finally, we got him on Saturday afternoon and he was sent to Trichy Central Prison under judicial custody,” said a police officer with Cantonment police station Trichy.