BHAIRAHAWA: Five Buddha statues have been vandalised in Tilottama Municipality of Rupandehi district along the Belhiya-Bhairahawa-Butwal road section, on Wednesday night.

Perpetrators demolished the statues established along the road section from Naya Mill to Shankar Chok. The statues in sitting posture were constructed with cement, limestone and sand. Each of the statues weighed over 120 kg.

A local, Ramesh Gurung, claimed that this act of destruction was an attempt to damage social and religious tolerance within the locality.

According to the mayor of the municipality, Bashudev Ghimire, authorities are looking into the cause behind this vandalism.

Earlier, Tilottama Municipality had placed 22 Buddha statues along the road section.