Vidisha: On the night between February 8 and 9, unidentified vandals broke into a 1,000-year-old Bhagwan Vishnu Mandir in Gopalnagar village, Sironj tehsil, Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh. The miscreants deliberately destroyed both ancient and newer stone murtis of Bhagwan Vishnu within the sanctum. The Mandir, protected by the state archaeology department, holds significant religious and historical importance for the surrounding villages.
Locals say the temple is believed to be nearly a millennium old and has long served as a major centre of faith in the region. The recent vandalism has sparked widespread anger among villagers and Hindu organisations, who have criticised the administration for failing to secure a religious site protected by the archaeology department.
Three locks broken to reach the sanctum
The incident came to light on the morning of February 9 when Monu Sharma, the younger brother of the Mandir’s chief pujari, arrived at the temple and found the main gate lock broken. Inside, he discovered that the locks of both inner sanctums had also been smashed.
The chief pujari had reportedly locked the sanctums and the Mandir after the evening Aarti on Sunday, indicating that the vandalism occurred after everyone had left the premises.
Inside the sanctums, the ancient stone murti of Bhagwan Vishnu was found broken at the feet, while a newer murti in an adjacent sanctum had also been damaged in the same manner. The severed feet of the newer murti were placed in the other sanctum. Media reports suggest the miscreants left both damaged murtis together in a single sanctum before fleeing.
Other murtis and items in the Mandir were also vandalised. Clothes and belongings stored in a chest were found scattered on the floor, suggesting the attackers may have been searching for valuables, though the Mandir murtis are not adorned with gold or silver, and no donation box exists on the premises.
Villagers noted that several years ago, part of the ancient idol had been damaged, prompting the construction of a new sanctum and the installation of a new murti, while the original idol remained in place. Both the ancient and newer idols were targeted in the recent attack.
Villagers and Hindu organisations protest
Upon learning of the incident, villagers and members of Hindu organisations gathered at the Mandir, blocking the Gopalnagar-Deekankheda road and demanding the arrest of the perpetrators within 48 hours. They accused the authorities of negligence despite the Mandir’s protected status.
Police from Deepankheda police station, along with SDOP Sonu Dabar, responded to the scene. Leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rakesh Saxena and Jagdish Shakya, also arrived as tensions rose. Sironj SDM Harishankar Vishwakarma later reached the site with additional police personnel, assuring protesters of a thorough investigation and swift action, after which the road blockade was lifted.
A dog squad team from Vidisha conducted an on-site search, and fingerprint experts were deployed to examine the crime scene. Speaking to the media, SDOP Sonu Dabar said the police were investigating the matter from all angles and assured that the accused would be arrested soon.
