A fact-check by the Hyderabad Police into the unsettling discovery of meat pieces near the sacred Shiva Lingam inside the Sankata Vimochana Hanuman Temple at Ganga Bowli “X” Road, Natraj Nagar, under Tappachabutra Police Station limits in Hyderabad, reveals that the incident was not a deliberate act to hurt religious sentiments. Instead, CCTV footage confirmed that a cat was responsible for the incident, dispelling initial suspicions and tensions.
The incident, which unfolded early in the morning, gripped devotees and locals with suspicion and anxiety. Outrage among Hindu devotees and organisations surged, with fears of potential communal provocation. Tensions escalated as Hindu devotees gathered at the temple premises, demanding swift action against the culprits.
Upon receiving the information around 8:20 AM, SHO Tappachabutra, A. Ramulu, along with his team, swung into action. Senior officers, including the ACP, Additional DCP, and DCP, visited the temple to assess the situation. Four teams were promptly formed to analyse CCTV footage from the surrounding area.
During the investigation, CCTV footage from a north-facing camera within the temple premises revealed: a cat carrying a piece of meat in its mouth was seen entering the temple and placing the meat behind the Shiva Lingam. This footage proved that the cat was responsible for the incident.
In light of these findings, the Hyderabad Police issued an official statement through the Deputy Commissioner of Police, South West Zone, Hyderabad: “We appeal to all citizens to refrain from spreading rumors or misinformation regarding the incident. On behalf of the Commissioner of Police, I commend the prompt and efficient efforts of all officers involved in detecting this matter in a short span of time.”
I appeal all citizens to not spread rumours & to cooperate for maintaining Communal harmony@hydcitypolice @TelanganaCOPs @MaheshBhagwat95 @CVAnandIPS @Mouzam_Ali_ pic.twitter.com/hvYzwffrxC
— DCP Golconda (గోల్కొండ మండల డీసీపీ ڈی سی پی گولکن) (@DCP_SWZ) February 12, 2025
Some more videos to corroborate Sankatmochan Temple incidents@hydcitypolice @TelanganaCOPs @CPHydCity @Mouzam_Ali_ pic.twitter.com/jgf2lEWoHt
— DCP Golconda (గోల్కొండ మండల డీసీపీ ڈی سی پی گولکن) (@DCP_SWZ) February 12, 2025
The Hyderabad police also urged the public to maintain harmony and avoid jumping to conclusions without verified information. The relevant CCTV footage has been attached for reference, bringing clarity to an incident that initially stirred communal tensions.
In the past 12 months, Hyderabad has witnessed several incidents targeting Hindu temples in both Hyderabad and Secunderabad. In some cases, the police arrested individuals but downplayed the incidents by attributing them to the actions of mentally ill or unstable persons, dismissing them as non-deliberate and not hate crimes. Historically, temple attacks and desecrations have been a recurring tactic to provoke Hindus in Hyderabad. However, recent times have seen a surge in such hate crimes, specifically targeting Hindu temples.
See the list of temples recently attacked in Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad) recently:
(1) Bhulaxmi Temple – Rakshapuram.
(2) Mathaji temple-Shivaji Nagar
(3) Matha temple-Amberpet
(4) Mathaji Idol damageded in Exhibition ground
(5) Muthyalamma Temple, Secunderabad
Now Navagraha idols…— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal বিনোদ বনসল వినోద్ బన్సాల్ (@vinod_bansal) November 6, 2024
The See the list of temples recently attacked in Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad) recently:
(1) Bhulaxmi Temple – Rakshapuram.
(2) Mathaji temple-Shivaji Nagar
(3) Matha temple-Amberpet
(4) Mathaji Idol damageded in Exhibition ground
(5) Muthyalamma Temple, Secunderabad
In view of these attacks, recently, the VHP Telangana delegation met Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad) Police Commissioner C.V. Anand and submitted a memorandum requesting an impartial inquiry into the recent multiple attacks on Hindu temples in different parts of the city and demanding strict punishment for the culprits.
A high level VHP delegation lead by the Telangana State president shri B. Narsimhamurthy today meet the Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad) police Commissioner shri C.V Anand @CVAnandIPS @CPHydCity and submitted a memorandum to conduct an impartial enquiry into the recent multiple attacks on… pic.twitter.com/I35QONCFO1
— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal বিনোদ বনসল వినోద్ బన్సాల్ (@vinod_bansal) October 16, 2024
Speaking to Organiser weekly, Dr Shashidhar, national spokesperson of VHP, said, “In view of Hyderabad’s history, particularly in the old city represented by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and AIMIM MLAs, their Islam-centric rhetoric, often lacking a nationalist perspective, has frequently fueled fear through provocative speeches. By deflecting political failures onto the NDA-led central government, they tend to portray the local Muslim community either as perpetual victims or as inheritors of a legacy linked to Islamic invaders like the Mughals. This approach, combined with the use of muscle power to control local issues, fosters suspicion when incidents like the discovery of meat in sacred temples occur.”
