The Nattukotai Chettiar temple committee has denied abusing two bulls who were made to pull its silver chariot during the Thaipusam festival in Penang yesterday.

The temple's trustees claim they are being "targeted for reasons only known to the perpetrators" when the incident went viral on social media.

Admitting that it was a sheer mistake, temple committee senior trustee Dr A Narayanan said, "But I cannot help feeling that we are being targeted."

He said for the last leg of the journey en route to the temple in Waterfall Gardens, about 10 devotees embarked on the chariot when it passed along Jalan Utama...