HYDERABAD: Communal tension flared in Pedana town, Krishna District, on Sunday night when a mob of Islamists attempted to attack the Shivalayam temple during the Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations. In a swift response, local Hindus resisted the stone-pelting aimed at the temple, preventing further damage. The situation intensified as the mob clashed with the police, who were also assaulted while trying to control the violence.
The violence erupted late on the night of September 15 during Vinayaka Chavithi celebrations when around 10 individuals, including two Muslim youths, Arif and Chotu, attempted to tie banners and flexes at the entrance of the Shivalayam temple and the nearby Ganesh Pandal at Jagapathi Theatre in Pedana. Local Hindus objected, leading to a heated argument. The Muslims initially retreated, but to the Hindu’s surprise, they returned with around 300 Muslim youths at 2 AM, many arriving on bikes from nearby Machilipatnam. The situation escalated as they launched a stone-pelting attack on the temple and the devotees gathered at the pandal.
For nearly two hours, the mob pelted stones while chanting slogans such as “Allahu Akbar” and “Nara-e-Takbeer.” The intensity of the attack overwhelmed the local police, forcing them to seek refuge inside the Ganesh Pandal. Despite this, local Hindus mounted a strong resistance, countering the Muslim mob’s attempts to escalate the violence.
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Reports suggest that the Muslim crowd had gathered from Pedana and nearby areas, including Gudur, Bantimally, and Machilipatnam. However, what remains alarming is how quickly around 300 individuals were able to mobilize and converge on Pedana that same night, seemingly prepared to escalate the situation further.
***Muslim mob attacks Hindus and Police in Pedana, Andhra Pradesh with Iron Rods and stones***. On Sunday midnight, a mob of 300-500 Muslims attacked a Ganesh temple and Ganesh mandap with iron rods and stones in Pedana, Andhra Pradesh. Despite police presence, including DSP CC,… pic.twitter.com/kPbT5ag6Pf
— Sadineni Yamini Sharma (@YaminiSharma_AP) September 16, 2024
Hindu residents reacted swiftly, pushing back against the Muslim group’s attempts to spread the unrest to other areas. The atmosphere remained extremely tense for nearly three hours. Once the District SP Gangadhar Rao arrived the situation came under control, with the police launching a lathi charge to disperse the mob.
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During the clashes, R Peta Inspector K. Yesu Babu and constable M. Nagaraju were injured, leading to the deployment of additional forces from West Godavari, Eluru, and NTR districts. Special police units were brought in to restore order in Pedana.
In a powerful response, around 400 Hindus, including 100 women, led the Ganesh Visarjan procession the following morning under police protection. Despite the police’s efforts, another attempt was made by a Muslim mob on Tuesday to re-enter the area with a Milad-Un-Nabi procession, but they were stopped.
Leaders from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), including state secretary Thanikella Ravi Kumar, held a press conference in Vijayawada. Ravi Kumar condemned the attacks, describing them as premeditated and part of a larger conspiracy. “This is not an isolated incident,” he said. “We are seeing a pattern of religious violence targeting Hindus, similar to the agenda pursued in Bangladesh. The state government’s failure to act is only emboldening these forces.”
Despite barricades and reinforcements, the police have yet to arrest any of the perpetrators. VHP leaders have expressed frustration at the authorities’ inaction, especially given the availability of CCTV footage. “Three days have passed, and still no arrests. Why did the police retreat? Why is the government remaining silent?” Ravi Kumar demanded.
The VHP also raised concerns about an unauthorised madrasa in Pedana, which they claim is becoming a hub for illicit activities, including illegal beef transportation. “This madrasa is now the epicenter of violence in Krishna district,” a VHP leader stated. “We will escalate this to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). This cannot be allowed to continue.”
The local Hindu community, feeling increasingly unsafe, warned that further attacks would not go unanswered. “We have remained silent for too long, but this cannot continue,” one resident said. The VHP has pledged to take every possible measure to safeguard Hindu religious sites and devotees.
On Wednesday, the VHP and other Hindu organisations toured Pedana town and visited the police station to inquire about the ongoing investigation. They demanded a thorough probe to uncover any sinister motives behind the disturbances and ensure the town’s peace is restored.
Speaking with Organiser, Ravi Kumar stated, “The VHP believes that the Islamic communal elements responsible for attacks on Hindus in West Bengal and Bangladesh are now operating here, exploiting their community for similar purposes. Portraying this as an isolated incident is an attempt to undermine the broader conspiracy at play. The police need to identify and apprehend the main orchestrators behind these attacks.”
