Three assailants, arrested in connection with the attack on the Sri Lankan Buddhist monk in Big Temple in India on Saturday, were remanded in judicial custody while nine others were let off on bail.
The 46-year-old Buddhist monk, Gananloka Thero, from Sri Lanka, currently pursuing archaeological studies in Delhi University, was roughed up by some activists of pro-Tamil Eelam outfits at the world-renowned Big Temple on Saturday.
The monk had come here as part of a 20-member team comprising students of postgraduate diploma in archaeology (PGDA) in Delhi University, on a study tour to the 1,000-year-old Brahadeeswarar temple, popularly known as Big Temple.
As the students were going around the temple, a group of activists belonging to various outfits, including the Tamil Desa Podhuvudaimai Katchi, Naam Tamizhar Katchi and MDMK, singled out the Sri Lankan, clad in saffron robes, and beat him up.
The protesters shouted slogans demanding that the monk leave Tamil Nadu forthwith.
However, he was escorted safely to the local archaeological office where the activists besieged the office and raised slogans against the genocide committed by the Sri Lankan government, triggering tension in the area.
Later, police escorted all the visiting tourists safely to Tiruchy airport. (DeccanChronicle)
