In back-to-back incidents of idol vandalism in Hyderabad, another such incident was reported in Secunderabad on Monday.
According to officials, the accused was caught by locals and handed over to the police.
There was mild tension in the neighbourhood following protests after the man was caught damaging the idol at Muthyalamma temple near passport office, Kummarguda in Monda division of Secunderabad.
Union minister G Kishan Reddy visited the spot and slammed the state government over its failure to maintain law and order, and demanded a thorough probe. BJP leader G Madhavi Latha also visited the spot and protested and the police detained her.
The CCTV footage showed a lone man entering the temple and trying to damage the idol and removing it from its pedestal. The locals were awakened by the noise and caught the man and he was beaten up.
“As per the CCTV footage that we have received, a man entered the temple at around 4:30 am today and removed the idol and damaged it. The locals nabbed him and handed him over to us. He is in our custody. He has quite a few injuries and his condition is critical. We will remand him as soon as his condition improves.
“According to the CCTV footage, there was only one person involved,” said DCP (North Zone) Rashmi Perumal.
She added that the man’s identity and motive were yet to be ascertained. The locals had alleged three people were involved in the desecration of the idol.
As locals protested, demanding action against the perpetrators, a number of politicians including BRS MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Secunderabad Cantonment MLA N Sri Ganesh visited the spot. BJP leader Madhavi Latha was detained from the spot after she joined the protest.
Union minister G Kishan Reddy, who visited the spot, said, “A series of incidents involving the destruction of idols of Goddess Durga Matha at various temples and pandals during Navratri in Bhagyanagar by anti-Hindu forces point to the negligence of the state government and its failure to maintain law and order.”
He then added, “These recent incidents indicate a larger conspiracy and I demand a thorough investigation into this to punish those responsible for destroying the idols and to ensure justice. Spoke to the commissioner of police in this regard.”
BJP MLA Raja Singh claimed while other public representatives were allowed to visit the spot, he was forcibly kept at home.
“After every incident, the police say that the man was mentally disturbed,” he said, demanding that the conspiracy be unearthed.
Just two days ago during Navratri festivities, an incident of vandalism took place at a pandal.