A video clip showing an individual damaging Deepavali kolam decoration at a private hospital started making its rounds on social media yesterday and irked many netizens, who criticised the man's action as being disrespectful.

The incident prompted police to launch an investigation under the Penal Code for the insult against religion, which is punishable with a jail sentence of not less than two years.

Police said two staff members of the private hospital had turned up at the district police headquarters last night, where they were arrested.