Protests erupt over Muthyalamma temple vandalism in Secunderabad; police resort to lathi charge

Hyderabad: High tension prevailed as thousands took out a rally in protest against the desecration of the Muthyalamma temple in Secunderabad on Saturday. Hindu organisations like Bajrang Dal, BJYM had called for a rally from Mahankali temple to Muthyalamma temple near the regional passport office demanding action against those who vandalised the main idol of Muthyalamma temple on Monday.

As they were not allowed to proceed further from the temple where a mosque was located, protesters clashed with police who were deployed in large numbers. Police had resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowds.

The protestors demanded action against those who desecrated the temple by vandalising the idol of the main goddess on Monday. Police had registered a case on Monday against the person who had vandalised the idol and also taken him into their custody.

“I condemn the police lathi-charge on Bajrang Dal activists and the public in Secunderabad. It is terrible that they obstructed a peaceful demonstration and created violence. The behaviour of the police is atrocious,” said union minister of state for home affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

Many protestors received injuries during the lathi charge. Police had identified the person who desecrated and vandalised the religious idol on Monday as a 30-year-old engineering graduate from Mumbai. He was in Hyderabad for over a month to attend personality development and English-speaking classes.

Police also found that Salman Salim Thakur, alias Salman, who allegedly desecrated the main idol at Mutyalamma temple in Secunderabad, was self-radicalised by watching videos of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and other preachers on social media and was earlier involved in similar incidents in Mumbai.

He entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Muthyalamma temple near the regional passport office in Secunderabad early on Monday and desecrated the main idol of the temple, which had triggered protests by local people, Hindu outfits, and the BJP.