Vandals damaged the statue of a deity at a Hindu temple in Bayan Baru last night.

The statue, worth about RM500, was kept at the Dewa Sri Mathurai Veeran Temple when it was damaged just before midnight.

Initial police investigations revealed the temple was currently not in use for religious rituals, said Southwest District police chief Supt Lai Fah Hin.

In a statement today, he said the management of the temple which was located on private land, had been given notice by the land owner to vacate the area.

This is the third such case reported since last month.

In early June, the statues of two deities were vandalised, with the first case reported at a Hindu temple in Penanti Estate, Ara Kuda.

- Bernama