A Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Pathberiye Gnanaloka Thero, was assaulted by members of Tamil outfits at the Big Temple in Thanjavur on Saturday. He was part of a team of students of the Institute of Archaeology of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), New Delhi, on a study tour.

Later in the day, vans transporting the students to the Tiruchi airport from Thanjavur were pelted with stones resulting in damage to windshields. However, the students escaped unhurt.

In Thanjavur, the students and staff, 19 in total, were going around the Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple when a group owing allegiance to the Naam Tamizhar Katchi and the Thamizh Desiya Podhuvudamai Katchi attacked Ven. Gnanaloka Thero, who stood out in the group in his saffron robe.

Read more: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sri-lankan-monk-assaulted/article4516524.ece

Source: The Hindu (India)