Andhra Pradesh: Another temple attacked, Goddess Sita idol found broken in Vijayawada

Desecrated idol of Goddess Sita (Photo Credits: New Indian Express)

In another attack on Hindu temples, the idol of Goddess Sita was found vandalised near Pandit Nehru bus stop in the Sitaram Temple in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. The incident came to light days after idols of Lord Subrahmanya and Shri Ram were similarly found damaged in the state.

As per reports, party workers from the BJP and TDP rushed to the spot and staged a protest against the increasing attacks on Hindu temples in the state. When the police were informed, they reached the temple and initiated a probe in the case. During the preliminary investigation, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vikrant Patil spoke to the temple caretaker Koteswaramma and assured the protestors that the accused would be nabbed.

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The police also spoke to locals to determine any suspicious movements of strangers. A police officer informed, “Additional forces have been deployed in the locality along with Krishnalanka police. The situation at Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple is peaceful. We are investigating the incident from all angles.”

Political reactions on the incident of idol desecration

While speaking about the incident, BJP National Secretary (Andhra Pradesh) Sunil Deodhar said, “Enough is enough. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy shouldn’t your silence and inaction be considered as hidden support to the miscreants? Are you taking Hindu sentiments for a ride? Ironically, all Hindu leaders of YCP too are silent. Aren’t they aware that people won’t spare them?”

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TDP supremo and former CM Chandrababu Naidu had earlier called the incumbent CM, a ‘betrayer of Hindus.’ While demanding a CBI probe, he inquired why the CM had not visited any of the desecrated temples or showed solidarity with the Hindus. He added, “Jagan Reddy may be a Christian. But thinking that he can use this power to convert Hindus is wrong. If people in power resort to religious conversions, it amounts to betrayal. One should not show such religious intolerance.”

Hindu temples targetted in Andhra Pradesh

Attacks on Hindu temples seem to have become a routine affair in the state Andhra Pradesh. Last month, the miscreants targeted the famous Ramatheertham in Vizianagaram district and desecrated 400-year-old idol of Bhagwan Ram. 

When the priest reached the temple on Tuesday morning, he found that the doors of the ancient Sita Lakshmana Kodandarama temple on the Bodikonda hillock in Ramatheertham were broken. When he entered the sanctum, he found the desecrated idol of Bhagwan Ram. The idol of the Lord was beheaded. The authorities at the temple immediately informed the police about the incident.

On January 1, a Lord Subrahmanya murti in Lord Vigneshwara temple was found desecrated in Rajahmundry district. The priest of the Vigneshwara temple found the murti of Lord Subrahmanya desecrated with two severed limbs of the murti lying on the ground.

OpIndia Staff: Staff reporter at OpIndia