A village near Tiruvarur witnessed slight tension on Friday following the alleged desecration of a portrait of Thanthai Periyar that was put up for the commemoration of his death anniversary on Thursday.

According to a report in The New Indian Express, the banner with Periyar’s picture put up at Agarathirunallur by the members of Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) for his death anniversary was found smeared with mud by people passing by.

People immediately assembled at the spot, and so did the Tiruvarur Taluk police, who assured them that action would be taken against the miscreants.

E V Ramaswamy 'Periyar', was a rationalist leader and the founder of DK. He was remembered across Tamil Nadu on his 42nd death anniversary on Thursday. 

DK President K Veeramani, DMK President M Karunanidhi and his party colleagues including General Secretary K Anbazhagan and M K Stalin and a host of leaders earlier paid tributes to Periyar.

The police have said that an investigation is ongoing.