Founder-director of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Ingrid Newkirk, and two functionaries were arrested on charges of blind-folding statue of Mahatma Gandhi [Images] at Gandhi Park in Coimbatore as part its campaign against the nod given by Supreme Court for conducting Jallikattu.

They were arrested on Thursday and released on bail after signing a bond, the police said.

The watchman and a contract worker of the park were also arrested in connection with the incident.

Though PETA activists originally scheduled to hold a protest on Wednesday against Jallikattu, it was dropped at the last minute.

However, Ingrid and the PETA activists had gone to Gandhi Park and blindfolded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and hung a board 'reject cruel sport Jallikattu'.

Following a complaint lodged by a Congress functionary, the police registered cases against Ingrid and others for creating religious ill-feeling, defaming the national leader, trespassing and also under the Tamil Nadu Open Places Prevention of Disfigurement Act.

Inspector Cederick Manuel was transferred to the City Police Armed Reserve for failing to stop the protest, the police said.