Tension was in the air at Kayalpattinam, after the thatched roof of Esakki Amman Temple was found burnt in the early hours of Saturday.

The over 50-year-old temple, located on the Kayalpattinam-Tiruchendur highway, is mainly covered with thatched roof. The fire was not reported to the nearest fire station at Tiruchendur, Fire and Rescue Services Department sources said. Following the incident, Hindu Munnani cadres of Odaikarai village started constructing a concrete structure since 6.30 a.m.

But residents of Kayalpattinam objected to the construction and sought the intervention of officials to stop the work.

The Superintendent of Police, M. Durai, who visited the temple, said that it could be an act of arson and an investigation had been launched to nab the offender. Adequate police force was deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Public transport services had been diverted, the SP said.

M. Tamilrajan, Revenue Divisional Officer, Tiruchendur, said that the concrete structure and an adjacent compound wall of the residence of former Chairman of Kayalpatnam Municipality, Seyed Abdur Rehman, had encroached upon the highway. After a peace committee meeting convened by the RDO, the encroachments were removed later in the day.