Gunman opens fire at devotee in temple

SUNGAI PETANI: An unidentified gunman walked into a Hindu temple and opened fire at a devotee performing prayers, narrowly missing him, on Monday night.

Four other devotees, including a woman carrying her one-year-old baby, fled into an oil palm estate as the man fired two more shots which went astray at the temple compound in Kuala Ketil, about 20km from here.

The gunman then rode off on a motorcycle after the shooting, the second such attack after a similar one three years ago left two people injured.

None of the five--the temple guard, two men, a woman and her baby--were hurt in the 9.30pm incident.

Guard P. Muniandy, 58, said he was helping out in the temple when he noticed a man wearing a crash helmet park his motorcycle outside the temple in Jalan Merbau Pulas.

"He then walked into the temple, drew out a pistol and pointed it at one of the men performing prayers at close range.

"However, the man quickly moved aside and the bullet went astray,'' he said.

Muniandy said all of them immediately ran into the nearby estate as two more shots rang out behind them.

He said he saw the man flee on a motorcycle towards Kuala Ketil town.

Muniandy, who had been the temple guard for 40 years, said none of them were injured in the incident.

Baling OCPD Supt Hassan Ismail, said police were investigating the case.

He said police had beefed up security and mounted road blocks in Kuala Ketil and nearby areas.

"The situation is under control and there is no need for alarm,'' he said.