Telangana: One arrested for damaging Goddess Durga idol, event organisers booked too

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 12 (ANI): The Telangana police have arrested one person for allegedly damaging the idol of Goddess Durga at a Puja pandal at Nampally Exhibition Grounds in Hyderabad’s Begum Bazar police station limits.

Akshahsh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Central Zone told ANI that the person was a vagabond and was feeling hungry and while searching for food, he disturbed the Prasadam thus damaging the idol.

“In the morning around 6:00 am we got a call that the Durga Mata idol which has been kept in the exhibition ground, the right hand has been damaged and the ‘prasad’ and other items kept at the feet of the idol were scattered. Immediately the team reached the spot in the morning and looked for the evidence, we checked CCTV footage and around 8:15 pm we caught one accused. The name of the accused is Krishnaiah Goud. He is a vagabond. He came to this pandal in the morning since he was feeling hungry and while searching for food he disturbed the Prasadam and in that, the idol got damaged,” DCP Akshash Yadav said.

He further said that they have also booked a case against the organizers of the event as there was “negligence” on their part.

“This incident happened because there was negligence on the part of the organizers. Whenever anybody keeps any idol on a public place then they have to fill an online intimation form. In that form, they have to give the name of volunteers who will be present around the clock. The organisers have given names of five volunteers but none on them were present here when the incident happened. We have booked a case against the organizers,” the DCP said.

BJP leader NV Subhash hs demanded a thorough investigation as soon as possible.

“This is very disturbing news. BJP Telangana condemns this kind of act. Durga Puja is going on. We demand Telangana Police and State Government to take immediate action against the people responsible for it. We have a doubt that some people wanted to create a ruckus. This is not acceptable. We demand thorough investigation as soon as possible,” he said.

BJP leader Madhavi Latha demanded strict action and warned that she would go on a dharna at the Police station if the police fail to take any action in 24 hours.

Madhavi Latha said, “The entire incident is uncivilised, uncultured. The way they have behaved, it is very communal by its nature…This happened at exhibition grounds where no common man can just enter without any thought of destroying…We requested the Police, they have said to allow them 24 hours of time…Police have promised us to pull out whoever have done this and if they don’t do it be tomorrow, you will see me on a dharna at the Police Station.”

She further said that people with good intentions have walked into the premises during Navratri and did puja.

“Yesterday night there was a Garba dance but between 3 am and 5 am on Saturday morning some anti-social elements have budged into the place and broken the hands of the goddess and smashed everything all around. I would warn them that by doing this they have established that they are not fit to be in this country. We will pull them out,” she added.