Moodbidri :  The Ayyappa Mandir at Ontikatte near here has been stoned by suspected cattle thieves in the wee hours of November 16, Friday.

According to reports, the cattle thieves who arrived near the Mandir at around  3 am in a Tata Sumo vehicle tried to catch the cattle moving in the area. When one Guruswamy Prashanth Anchan who woke up on hearing the sound saw some people trying to catch hold of the thieves. Though they reportedly fled the scene, they arrived a little while later and stoned the temple.

Reports also say one of the miscreants threatened Ayyappa devotees wielding a lethal weapon.

A complaint has been lodged with Moodbidri police.

Members of Hindu organizations also protested outside the police station demanding arrest of the  miscreants.