A wave of outrage swept through Hyderabad after an incident of idol vandalism occurred at the Bhoolaxmi temple in the Rakshapuram area on Monday night. The incident, which took place under the jurisdiction of the Santosh Nagar police station, saw unidentified assailants damaging the idol of the goddess.
The news of the vandalism sparked immediate anger, with a large crowd gathering at the temple and raising slogans condemning the attack. Police officials swiftly arrived at the scene to control the situation and initiated investigations.
DCP South East Kanti Lal Patil stated that the incident occurred between 11:30 pm and 12:00 am on Monday. He revealed that police had identified two suspects through CCTV footage and subsequently arrested them. Patil confirmed that one of the arrested individuals is believed to be the primary perpetrator, while investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of their involvement.
However, accusations of a political motive behind the vandalism have surfaced. BJP Bhagya Nagar district president Samreddy Surender Reddy pointed fingers at the local corporator and his associates, alleging they were responsible for the attack. Reddy stated that this wasn’t the first instance of violence at the temple, claiming similar incidents have occurred over the past five years.
He emphasized that the temple has been attacked a total of five times, with this latest incident resulting in the destruction of the goddess’ idol. He also recalled a similar incident two years ago at the Vinayak mandap, suggesting a pattern of disruption and intimidation.
Reddy further criticized the police response, highlighting the temple’s proximity to the police station—a mere 50 square yards away. He questioned the effectiveness of police patrols, given the occurrence of the vandalism despite their presence.
While acknowledging the arrests of two individuals, Reddy expressed skepticism about their true culpability, suggesting the arrested individuals were merely pawns used by the corporator. He urged the police to thoroughly investigate the corporator and a nearby pan shop owner, believing they hold crucial information about the incident.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and raised concerns about religious intolerance and the safety of religious sites. Authorities are working to quell the unrest and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. The investigations are ongoing, and further developments are anticipated as the police delve deeper into the incident.
