Ballia: A case has been lodged against five persons after a temple of Sant Ravidas was set on fire by some anti-social elements in Chitbaragaon area of Ballia district here in Uttar Pradesh, police sources said here on Tuesday.

Police sources told UNI that some anti-social elements torched the thatched roof Sant Ravidas temple in Marchi Khurd village late on Monday night.

"The fire was controlled by the police with the help of the villagers. On the complaint of Chhote Lal and others a case has been lodged against Rajesh Tiwari, Aditya Tiwari, Ravindra Tiwari, Janaki Tiwari and Munna Tiwari under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act," they said.

Police sources said that it has been alleged that the accused, who were armed with sticks, desecrated the statue and set the temple on fire.

"A video of the incident has gone viral on social media," they said.

Meanwhile, Sub Divisional Magistrate (Sadar) Prashant Nayak, who visited the spot, said that the statue of Sant Ravidas and the temple was set on fire on Monday night.