Statues of Hindu gods and goddesses were found desecrated at Chamundi Hills here, sparking protests against police for failing to protect them.

Police Commissioner K L Sudheer said the incident took place in wee hours of the day. As news about the
damage spread, people gathered there and demanded arrest of the vandals, he said.

As a precautionary measure police personnel were deployed in the area, Sudheer said.

Police said they have taken into custody a mentally challenged person for inquiry.

Condemning the incident, activists of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a pro-Kannada outfit, staged protests raising slogans against "lackadaisical" attitude of the police in booking the culprits.

KRV activists also demanded the state government to deploy police in and around important religious places like Chamundi Hills, Kuke Subrhamanya and Male Mahadeshwara Hills. They also demanded reinstallation of the the damaged statues.