Hyderabad Police on Saturday resorted to lathicharge after the statewide ‘bandh’ called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal members turned violent. The Hindu outfit members are protesting against the against the Telangana government’s “attitude” towards security of temples after an alleged desecration of an idol at Muthyalamma temple in Secunderabad on Monday.
Amid chants of “Jai Shree Ram,” the crowd was seen hurling slippers at the police during the protest before the state machinery took control of the crowd.
Salman Salim Thakur, also known as Salman, an engineering graduate from Maharashtra, allegedly entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Muthyalamma temple in Secunderabad during the early hours of Monday and desecrated the main idol. This act sparked protests from local residents, Hindu organizations, and the BJP.
Here are top developments:
VHP calls for protest in Telangana
The VHP announced a state-wide protest for Saturday, October 19, 2024, accusing the Telangana government of failing to protect Hindu temples from attacks.
VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal confirmed that the protest will be held at all district centers across the state.
Multiple Hindu groups have expressed their support for the protest, condemning what they describe as a rising number of attacks on temples throughout the state.
Two incidents idol vandalism
The first incident occurred at a Puja pandal at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds, where a Durga idol was damaged. Police reported that a homeless man was responsible for the vandalism, claiming it was unintentional. According to authorities, he was searching for food and accidentally disturbed the Prasadam, leading to the damage. However, BJP leaders are calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The second incident, which resulted in widespread protests, involved the vandalism of the Muthyalamma temple in Secunderabad’s Mondal division. Prominent BJP leaders, including Union minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy, visited the temple complex to condemn the act.
Local residents apprehended one individual, later identified as Salman Salim Thakur, and turned him over to the police. Investigations revealed that Thakur had come to the city earlier in the month to participate in a month-long personality development workshop. In response to these incidents, BJP leaders are demanding a National Investigation Agency (NIA) inquiry.