Tensions have gripped the southern Indian state of Karnataka after as many as 13 idols of Hindu deities kept at the exhibition centre of the Malekallu Tirupati temple museum were vandalised.
The temple is devoted to Sri Venkataramana Swamy, or Lord Balaji, who is worshipped by millions of Hindus.
According to the preliminary inquiry, the vandals seemingly used rods and other equipment to break the idols.
"We have called up dog squad, and fingerprint experts collected the clues on miscreants", police officer R. Srinivas Gowda told reporters.
Gowda added that security has been beefed up on the premises, and police remain vigilant. After the news broke out, hundreds of Hindu activists gathered at the temple demanding strict action against the culprits.
Over the past 15 months, a number of religious conflicts or debates have been seen in the state, including a ban on wearing hijabs in classrooms, calls from Hindu activists to boycott Muslim-traded goods, and a drive to evict Muslim vendors from temple premises.