The Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), D Gautam Sawang, has sent out an alert across the state following reports of a series of attacks on idols at Hindu temples by unknown miscreants.
As per data released by the Andhra Pradesh DGP, about 228 cases of attacks on temples were registered in 2020. The number was 305 in 2019, 267 in 2018, 318 in 2017, 332 in 2016 and 290 in 2015.
The alert comes after two more instances of temple idols being attacked that were reported on Sunday (January 3) from Vijayawada because on Saturday (January 2), unidentified people desecrated the idol of Goddess Sita at a temple situated in the Pandit Nehra Bus Station.
As Hindus prepare to start the collection of money via donations to build the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, an idol of the Goddess Sita was found broken at Pandit Nehru Bus Station. In another instance, an idol of Ketu was vandalized at Sivalayam at Vuyyuru in Vijayawada outskirts.
The clay idol of Sita that was made of clay was found broken in the morning by a priest. But what is most perplexing is that the temple door remained locked and afterwards the police at the Krishna Lanka police station was informed of this incident.
The Commissioner of Police Bathini Srinivasulu told The New Indian Express that a special team has been formed to examine the CCTV footage to identify the miscreants. The police have booked cases under sections 448, 427, 295 and 153 (a) if the IPC against unknown persons and are looking at CCTV footage.
After the discovery of the desecration of Mata Sita idol, a large number of people associated with the TDP, BJP and VHP gathered at the bus station and protested against the vandalisation of the idol.
It was reported that an idol of Lord Subrahmanyeswara was vandalised at the Ganesh Temple in the state’s Rajamahendravaram city located in the East Godavari district on 1 January and on 29 December, a 400-year-old idol of Lord Ram was beheaded by unidentified individuals at the Sita Lakshmana Kodandarama temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Ramatheertham.
As of now, DGP Sawang has directed DIGs, Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, Deputy SPs and the Station House Officers (SHOs) to step up vigil at temples across the state. Patrolling by police will also be increased CCTV cameras will be monitored at all places of worship immediately, stated the DGP on Sunday.
The state’s DGP said that “miscreants are trying to disturb the peace and create a law and order problem in Andhra Pradesh.”
Ever since Jagan Mohan Reddy became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the number of attacks on Hindu temples have increased at an alarming rate with no convictions so far. Reddy is also been accused of using the state funds and machinery to promote Christianity and also support evangelicals in their bid to convert Hindus.