Coimbatore, Apr 19: Shops and offices in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Pollachi, Mettupalayam and Nilgris were closed today after a Hindu outfit Hindu Munnani gave a call for bandh to protest rising number of attacks on temples in southern India.
Muruganathan, convenor of Hindu Munnani's Coimbatore Unit, alleged that a Hindu temple was vandalized by mischief makers over six months ago. Over the past ten days, the vandalism has reached new heights and spead to places like Coonoor in the Nilgiris and the hosiery city of Tirupur, he said.
"The Hindu places of worship are being selectively targeted", he allged.
In some cases, he alleged, the mischief makers were detained and later let off by local police.
"It is high time for the government to act and take action against those activists attacking Hindus and not just turn a blind eye for the sake of votes from a particular community", he said.
The protest was under the banner of Aainthu Hindu Iyakka Koottamaippu, a consortium of Hindu organisations.
Since today was Ramnavami, most of the offices and shops had declared holiday on their own.
Streets and markets in Coimbatore wore a deserted look while the police and security personnel maintained a strict vigil on the movement of public.
Meanwhile, Aainthu Hindu Iyakka Koottamaippu demanded that those carrying out violent acts against Hindu activists and temples must be detained under the National Security Act.
