Kannur (Kerala), Mar 30 (PTI) A 55-year-old local ragpicker was on Saturday arrested by the police for allegedly defacing the memorial tombs of four late CPI(M) leaders, including former Kerala Chief Minister E K Nayanar, at the famous Payyambalam beach here a couple of days ago.

An officer of Kannur Town police station said that the man -- Shaji -- had found a soft drink bottle lying on the beach and had poured its contents on the memorials.

Also Read | Indian Navy Rescue Operation: Nine Pirates Being Brought to India To Face Legal Action Day After Rescuing Iranian Vessel ‘Al-Kambar’.

"It was a random act without any political enmity or conspiracy behind it," the officer said.

A case under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 297 (trespassing on burial places) of the IPC has been registered against the man, police said.

Also Read | Easter 2024: President Droupadi Murmu Extends Greetings to People on Easter Eve.

The memorials were found defaced on Thursday morning, prompting strong condemnation from the ruling party.

In addition to Nayanar, the tombs of late CPI(M) state secretaries Chadayan Govindan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, as well as trade union leader O Bharathan, were found defaced.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)