In India’s southern state of Karnataka, a monkey emerged as the sole protector of a Lord Hanuman shrine from officials who want to demolish the roadside temple.

The monkey stationed itself at the gateway of the shrine and prevented authorities from entering the temple premises.

Officials in the Kolar region of the state are planning to destroy the temple to widen the national highway on which it is located.

According to the local residents, the monkey normally does not harm anybody but surprisingly turned aggressive towards the officials who came with the purpose of demolishing the ‘holy place‘.

The temple was built around 20 years ago and a dead monkey was buried beneath the idol of Lord Hanuman.

(Via Reuters)