"Person who vandalised temple a terrorist": VHP Chief Bala swamy on attack on Hindu temples

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 20 (ANI): Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) State Chief spokesperson Bala Swamy on Sunday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Telangana government to suspend individuals who lathi-charged people who were protesting outside the Secunderabad temple over vandalism of temples.

"The police lathi-charged the members of VHP, Bajrang Dal...We are issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to the Telangana government to suspend the police officers who lathi-charged the workers who were protesting outside the Secunderabad temple," Bala Swamy said while speaking to ANI.
"The person of vandalised the idol is a terrorist...Telangana police are not taking any steps to arrest those responsible for the incident," he said.

Telangana Police lathi-charged protestors at the Shri Muthyalamma Devi Temple in Hyderabad on Saturday, where a large crowd had gathered to protest the alleged vandalism of the temple idol.

Hyderabad had already witnessed two separate incidents involving the vandalization of Hindu idols, sparking protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other religious organisations.

The first incident involved the vandalization of a Durga idol at a Puja pandal at Nampally Exhibition Grounds, within the jurisdiction of Hyderabad's Begum Bazar police station. Police reported that the person responsible was a vagabond, and the act was not deliberate. According to the police, he was hungry and, while searching for food, accidentally disturbed the Prasadam, damaging the idol. However, BJP leaders have called for a detailed investigation.

The second incident, which triggered widespread protests, was the vandalism of the Muthyalamma temple in Secunderabad's Mandal division. Many BJP leaders, including Union Minister and Telangana BJP President G Kishan Reddy, visited the temple complex and condemned the incident.

One individual was caught by locals and handed over to the police. He was later identified as Salman Salim Thakur. Hyderabad police later found that Thakur had arrived in the city earlier this month to attend a month-long personality development workshop. BJP leaders have demanded an NIA investigation into the case. (ANI)