Unknown persons vandalised the statue of Muthyalamma in Secunderabad on Monday.
| Photo Credit: Ramakrishna G.
Tensions escalated in Secunderabad on Monday morning after the alleged vandalism and desecration at the Muthyalamma temple located near the Clock Tower. Locals, outraged by the incident, apprehended one suspect and handed him over to police.
The residents who were alerted by a loud noise during the wee hours of Monday, rushed to the temple and caught one of the culprits. He was detained by police later. CCTV footage from the precincts showed a person kicking the main gate and entering the temple. “He was thrashed by the locals before we could take him into custody. He is undergoing treatment at Gandhi Hospital. A case will be booked,” said an officer from the Market police of Hyderabad. “The reason and motive are yet to be ascertained. We will be taking his statement and booking a case as per the law,” added the officer.
Inspector of Market Police, P. Raghavendar said that the incident occurred sometime before 4:30 a.m. on Monday. “According to a complaint filed by Chelmela Kiran Kumar, he received a call from his brother early this morning informing him that the Durga Matha idol at the temple had been damaged. Upon reaching the temple, Kumar found that a neighbouring resident had apprehended an unknown suspect. The complaint further states that the idol’s lion mount was found lying outside the temple, and the silver idol itself was knocked over inside the premises,” said the Inspector.
An FIR has been registered at the Market Police under sections 333, 331(4), 196, 298 and 299 of the BNS. “The identity of the suspect and the motive behind the vandalism are yet to be determined,” added the officer.
On Monday noon, a large number of residents gathered near the temple, demanding justice for the sacrilege. The Hyderabad city police deployed over 100 policemen on the ground to provide bandobast as politicians started visiting the public gathered to protest against the vandals. BJP leaders, including Madhavi Latha, were detained.
Meanwhile, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the temple and condemned the act. He alleged that certain individuals are deliberately trying to create communal tension in Hyderabad. Telangana BJP spokesperson Tulla Veerender Goud echoed Mr. Reddy’s sentiments. He urged the government to take swift action and arrest the culprits. Former minister and BRS MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav also visited the temple to express solidarity with the affected community.
Meanwhile, the city police placed BJP Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh under house arrest to prevent him from reaching Secunderabad.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president K.T. Rama Rao took to X and said, that the attack on Muthyalamma Temple in Secunderabad is deeply disturbing. “Such senseless acts are a blot on our city’s tolerant fabric. I demand immediate and stringent action against the miscreants. The state government must be held accountable for the alarming deterioration in law and order in recent months,” he posted.
This incident comes just two days after another place of worship was desecrated in Hyderabad. On October 12, a man was arrested for damaging the idol of Goddess Durga at a Puja pandal. The police however stated that he was mentally challenged.
Published – October 14, 2024 04:58 pm IST
