On the evening of Krishna Janmashtami, 26 August, tension gripped the Old City of Hyderabad as the Bhulakshmi Mata temple in Rakshapuram, Santoshnagar, was vandalized by unknown bike-borne assailants around 11:30 PM. The attack, which locals believe was carried out with deliberate intentions to disturb communal harmony and disrupt the upcoming Ganesh festival, has sparked outrage across the city.
The locals immediately identified this vandalism and reached the spot. The situation escalated rapidly as news of the vandalism spread. A large crowd of Hindus, including members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindutva groups, gathered at the temple site at night, demanding immediate action and a thorough investigation. Chanting bhajans and raising slogans, the Hindu protesters occupied the Rakshapuram road, voicing their anger against what they perceived as a deliberate act of blasphemy. They also accuse attacks on this particular temple, which has over 200 years of history, citing the fact that four FIRs have already been filed for destruction at the temple.
With tensions escalating, Hyderabad police deployed the Task Force and CAR police to maintain order in the Santosh Nagar PS limits. The Senior officials speaking to locals at the site, said they have arrested two individuals whom they suspect to be behind the attack.
Local claims that in an unexpected turn of events, a local Muslim leader produced two members whom he accused of temple attacks and handed them over to police, who also claimed to have arrested two members; it is unclear whether the police are investigating the case or a local Muslim leader. Furthermore, he recognized one of the mentally unstable, casting doubt on his activities, which appear to be part of a larger plan to undermine the sensitive issue.
Dr. Shashidhar, Joint Secretary of VHP Telangana, who rushed to the spot at night, voiced strong concerns about the incident. “This appears to be a targeted hate crime,” he stated, pointing to the illegal settlements of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas at the sensitive nearby DRDO region, who are believed to receive support from AIMIM leaders. He further suggested that the attack might be the handiwork of MIM goons aiming to disrupt the Ganesh festival and called for an impartial investigation to uncover what he described as the ‘Darussalam agenda,’ which could involve a larger conspiracy to target Hindu temples and convert the area into Wakf lands.
Dr. Shashidhar questioned why the local leader perceived these two individuals as criminals and mentally unwell. There are claims that six to seven motorcycle riders entered the temple, vandalized it, and fled the scene.
The incident has further fueled suspicions about the role of AIMIM leaders, particularly MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, who represents the Chandrayangutta constituency, where the attack took place. Known for his communal rhetoric, Owaisi is being accused of using such incidents to incite further unrest and distract from accusations of land encroachments and illegal activities tied to his party.
The vandalism, coinciding with recent attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh, has led to suspicions that this incident is part of a broader strategy by AIMIM to divert public attention from its controversial activities, including alleged land encroachments.
The vandalism has left the Hindu community in Hyderabad’s Old City on high alert, with fears that this attack is just the beginning of a series of orchestrated efforts to disrupt religious harmony and gain political mileage.
Furthermore, Dr. Shashidar has demanded that the police should look into the phone records of MLAs Abkaruddin Owaisi and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who are known to provoke his party members to ignite communal rioting. Recently, the HYDRA initiated a drive against encroachments of illegal lands and buildings in the old city area; perhaps this is one of the reasons to divert the public and government’s attention away from the real issues; it is an indication that he can disrupt the peace of Hyderabad and harm its reputation.
Dr. Shashidhar expressed deep suspicion about the recurring pattern of incidents, stating, “It is highly suspicious that only mentally ill Muslims seem to target Hindu temples, and then, as if on cue, their parents or community members quickly arrive to apologize, as if following a scripted narrative.” He suggested that these incidents appear orchestrated, raising questions about the true motivations behind them.
Several Hindu and BJP leaders including Hyderabad BJP MP contestant Kompella Madhavi Latha visited the vandalized temple this morning.
She expressed her concern on X platform, stating, “This is not just an attack on our sacred deities but a direct assault on Hindu sentiments. Such disrespect towards our traditions is unacceptable, and I stand with the community in demanding immediate justice.”
The people claim that it was a Hindu-majority region 30-40 years ago, but that vast numbers of Muslims, primarily illegal Bangladeshis or Rohingya communities, moved in over time, and that it is now a Muslim-dominated locality.
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