Tensions escalated in Secunderabad, Telangana, following the vandalism of the Muthyalamma temple, leading to confrontations between protesting Hindus and police on Saturday. The situation intensified when police resorted to a lathi charge against the devotees gathered at the temple premises.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal had called for a statewide bandh in response to the vandalization of the idol at the Shri Muthyalamma Devi Temple, which occurred on Monday. Many individuals, including women and children, participated in the demonstration at the temple.
A significant police presence was deployed at the site. During the protests, some participants allegedly threw stones, water bottles, and footwear at the officers, resulting in injuries to a few police personnel. In response, police used force to disperse the crowd, leading to injuries among several protesters.
Reports indicated that while some demonstrators attempted to stage a sit-in at the temple, another group tried to enter the Metropolis Hotel, linked to the vandalism case. Police intervened to prevent this and chased the group away.
BJP MLA Raja Singh condemned the police’s actions, calling the lathi charge brutal and unjustified. He stated that it was disturbing for peaceful protesters to be met with force when expressing their outrage over the desecration of their religious sentiments. Singh questioned who authorized the lathi charge and argued that those responsible for the vandalism should face consequences, not the devotees seeking justice. He described the incident as an example of the Congress party’s appeasement politics, where the majority’s concerns are often overlooked.
On October 14, an idol at the Muthyalamma temple in the Kurmaguda area of Hyderabad was vandalized, allegedly by Salman Salim Thakur, who was apprehended by locals and handed over to the police after being beaten.
Hyderabad police have also charged well-known motivational speaker Munawar Zama and two others for inciting hatred and encouraging the vandalism. They were allegedly promoting animosity towards Hindus during a month-long personality development workshop held at the Metropolis Hotel, where the vandalism was discussed.
The hotel, managed by Abdul Rasheed Basheer Ahmed and Rehman, has since been sealed by police. The administration has committed to repairing the damages inflicted on the temple.