The police investigation into the desecration of the Sri Dwimukhi Anjaneya Swamy Temple at Barkas under Chandrayangutta Police Station in Hyderabad has led to the apprehension of three minors, identified as residents of Royal Colony, Balapur and stated to be natives of Myanmar.
The incident, which came to light in the early hours of 24 February 2026, involved the breaking of the temple lock, damage to the Hanuman murthi, and theft of a copper pooja vessel by unknown offenders.
Based on a complaint filed by J. Naveen Kumar, Chandrayangutta Police registered a case in under Sections 298, 299, 324(2), 331(3), 305 read with 3(5) of the BNS and launched an investigation.
ACP Chandrayangutta A. Sudhakar and SHO R. Gopi formed special teams that analysed CCTV footage from nearby areas. During the probe, footage showed suspicious movement of minors carrying items in polythene bags.
Acting on leads, police apprehended three CCL from Royal Colony, Balapur, who allegedly confessed to breaking the temple lock with a stone, entering the premises, stealing a copper vessel, and damaging the murthi.
On 26 February 2026 at about 9:30 am, police took the individuals into custody from their residences and produced them before the V ACJM Court in Nampally.
In a related development, Mohd Abdul Waheed (60), a scrap dealer from Edi Bazar, Balanagar, was also apprehended as the receiver of the stolen property and produced before the court.
Police stated that the minors, allegedly addicted to vices and seeking money to meet expenses, had hatched a plan to commit theft at the temple.
Recently, Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti held a public meeting to sensitise on the security threat and illegal settlements of Bangladeshi and Rohingyas in Balapur zone, and flagged on serious crimes and citizen security emerging from these areas.
On February 6, BGUS also submitted a representation to the Hyderabad City Police Commissioner seeking action against illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators in Balapur and nearby areas. The Samiti cited court records referring to 26 Rohingya colonies in the Balapur–Ranga Reddy region and noted that, as of October 30, 2025, 6,993 Rohingya Muslims were recorded within Balapur Police Station limits. It urged a comprehensive enforcement drive, including search operations in Balapur, action on document fraud, coordination with central agencies for deportation under the Foreigners Act, and removal of encroachments around sensitive defence zones.
VHP spokesperson Dr Shashidhar, speaking with Organiser, said, “The police arrested the suspects from Royal Colony, an area known to have 26 colonies of Bangladeshi or Rohingya infiltrators who were supposed to be in police detention centres. It is strongly suspected that these temple attacks may be one phase, and the next targets could be premier defence establishments such as DRDO, DRDL and RCI. Moreover, the city police and Congress Chief Minister Revanth Reddy are selectively blind to such developments. We demand strict action and accountability.”
Hyderabad’s Old City, represented by AIMIM President and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, also has a strong legislative presence with seven AIMIM MLAs in the Telangana State Assembly.
