Tension prevailed in Kasaragod on Friday following an alleged defacement of the gateway of the Mallikarjuna temple on Thursday night.
The police suspect miscreants were behind the incident.
Sangh Parivar outfits called a 12-hour hartal in protest against the incident. All shops in the town remained closed fearing trouble. Hartal supporters pelted stones at a few shops. Stones were also hurled at a place of worship. Two persons were injured in stone-throwing. Bus services were hit by the hartal, leaving many passengers stranded in the town.
A posse of police headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police P. Bijoy and Circle Inspector T.P. Premarajan were deployed in the town.