A statue of  E V Ramasami ''Periyar'' was found smeared with saffron paint at Coimbatore on the wee hours of Friday.  As the news spread, more than 20 cadres of DMK, MDMK, Dravidar Kazhagam and Thanthai Periyar Dravdar Kazhagam (TPDK) gathered in front of the statue and staged a protest demonstration demanding arrest of the culprits.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami, meanwhile assured of tough action. "Stringent action will be taken as per law. I have instructed the police to take appropriate action and bring the culprits to book," he told reporters at Erode.

It was later reported that a youth belonging to a fringe pro-Hindu outfit has surrendered in this connection.

Police said a young man in his twenties, Arun Krishnan, who is the Coimbatore south district organiser of Bharat Sena, has surrendered.

CCTV footage was being analysed and a probe was on, they said. The desecration by miscreants comes against the backdrop of the arrest of two men, who subscribe to atheism, for denigration of ''Kanda Sashti Kavasam,'' a popular, Tamil hymn held sacred and recited every day by millions of devotees in Tamil Nadu in praise of Lord Muruga/Skanda. The two men are connected to a Tamil video channel on a social media platform and it has content allegedly against Hindu beliefs, according to Hindu organisations.

Leaders across all political factions condemned the incident. Senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said such despicable acts can never be accepted, adding it was a punishable offence. DMK president M K Stalin said Periyar had slogged for "small men" as well, (seen as a reference to those behind sullying the statue by pouring paint) and that was why he was being hailed as "Periyar" (great man). MDMK chief Vaiko demanded that the government act 'responsibly' and take action. He condemned the "continuous targeting of Periyar's statues in Tamil Nadu." The PMK, an ally of the ruling AIADMK, demanded stern action against the miscreants and described the desecration as an act of cowardice. 

Taking to Twitter, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi condemned this move stating that Periyar is not a mere statue but the path to social justice.

"Even after decades after his demise Periyar is still the one who sets the narrative. He is not a mere statue but the path to self-respect and social justice including those who smear him with colours," Kanimozhi tweeted.

A complaint has been filed by Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) workers in the matter.

Similarly, security was also provided to six more Periyar statues in the city and that of Dr B R Ambedkar as a precautionary measure.

Security was also tightened across the city to prevent any untoward incident.