Mysuru, May 31 -- A shocking act of vandalism occurred at the heart of Mysuru city last evening, when an unidentified man climbed the iconic statue of Rajarishi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at Krishna Raja (K.R.) Circle, perched himself on its head, and dangled his legs over its shoulders-for over 30 minutes.

Witnesses were stunned as the man engaged in brazen and disrespectful behaviour, shaking the statue aggressively, holding onto it tightly and even scraping a burning matchstick across its face. At one point, he attempted to press a lit beedi against the marble figure. Despite repeated pleas from passersby, the man refused to come down, relenting only after being warned of arrest.

One of city's busiest traffic junctions

The incident...