A wave of outrage swept through Hyderabad on Friday following an act of vandalism at a Durga Puja pandal located in the Nampally Exhibition Grounds. This incident, which occurred under the jurisdiction of the Begum Bazar police station, involved the damaging of the Goddess Durga idol, leading to immediate protests in the area.
BJP leader Madhavi Latha, who is the party’s candidate for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Hyderabad, condemned the act, referring to the offenders as “anti-social” and “anti-religious elements.” She described the incident as “uncivilized, uncultured,” and “communal.” Latha highlighted the seriousness of the situation, stating that the perpetrators “barged in between 3 am and 5 am, broke the hands of the mother goddess, and vandalized everything around.”
Her outrage was palpable as she warned the culprits, declaring that “by doing this, they have shown they are unworthy of respect in this country.” She urged for swift police action, threatening to stage a protest outside the police station if the culprits were not apprehended by the following day.
In response, local residents took to the streets of Nampally to protest the desecration of the Goddess Durga idol, voicing their anger over the incident, which also involved tampering with the donation box (hundi) at the pandal.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Abids) A. Chandrasekhar confirmed that the vandalism occurred early Friday morning. Although the idol sustained damage to one of its hands, police managed to repair it, allowing the pujas to continue. Authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation, including reviewing CCTV footage, to identify and apprehend those responsible. The Begum Bazar police are actively pursuing leads in this case.
