An act of vandalism was reported at the centuries-old Hanuman temple in Telangana’s Hyderabad, prompting police to register a case and launch an investigation, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred in Chandrayangutta area, where the nearly 200-year-old statue of Sri Dwimukhi Anjaneya Swamy temple was found damaged, news agency ANI reported. The complaint was filed by a local resident, J Naveen Kumar, who discovered the vandalism during his morning visit to the temple on February 24, police said.
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According to the complaint, Kumar noticed that the grill lock at the entrance to the temple had been forcefully broken. Upon entering the building at around 8 am, he found that the main statue had been damaged by unknown persons. He then alerted residents in the surrounding area, the report stated.
The complainant told police that the temple, located at Hanuman Bandha in Barkas, holds great religious and historical value for devotees and has been a regular place of worship for generations. He claimed that the damage appeared to be intentional and aimed at hurting religious sentiments.
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The complaint also noted that the temple is located in a relatively secluded area, and that instances of nuisance and illegal activities near the building have been reported in the past. The FIR indicated that the incident sparked a state of panic among worshipers and the people of the area.
Seeking strict action, the complainant urged the authorities to ensure enhanced security at the temple to prevent similar incidents in the future. The report added that it also requested a comprehensive investigation to identify those responsible and take action under relevant legal provisions to maintain communal harmony and public order.
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Based on the complaint, Assistant Inspector Srinivasa Rao registered a case under Sections 324(2), 329(4) and 298 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. Police said investigations are ongoing and efforts are being made to track down and arrest the suspects involved in the vandalism.
(With inputs from Annie)
