Hyderabad: Chaitanyapuri Police have registered an FIR against Mohammed Ansari after he allegedly entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Santoshi Mata Temple in Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad and attacked the murti with sticks while devotees were offering prayers on October 2.
The complaint was filed by P. Srinivas, president of Sri Seetharamanjaneya and Sri Santoshi Mata Devasthanams, following the incident at the temple.
According to the FIR, Mohammed Ansari Ansari entered the temple premises while devotees were offering prayers, climbed onto the raised platform of the sanctum sanctorum and laid his hands on the sacred murti of Goddess Santoshi Mata.
The complaint states that Ansari entered the temple when it was open and devotees were engaged in worship. He climbed onto the raised platform of the sanctum, and touched the sacred murti of Goddess Santoshi Mata. He then allegedly pulled out sticks and threw them forcefully at the murti, causing damage to the deity and its adornments. Santoshi Mata temple FIR.
Temple devotees and staff intervened and moved Ansari away from the murti. He was detained at the spot by the devotees and temple staff and subsequently handed over to the police.
The FIR states that the entire incident was captured on the temple’s CCTV system,with the time stamp recorded.
Based on the complaint, Chaitanyapuri Police registered the case under Sections 329(4), 333, 324, 298, 299 and 300 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The sections cited in the FIR include provisions concerning trespass into a place of worship, damage to property, defiling a place of worship or sacred object, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings and disturbance of a religious assembly.
The complainant also requested the police to investigate whether other persons were involved in the incident. The FIR records the complaint’s assertion that the act appeared intended to disturb religious feelings between communities and disrupt peace in the locality. This is recorded as the complainant’s contention and remains subject to investigation.
The attack on temple comes against the backdrop of a series of reported attacks, vandalism and desecration incidents involving Hindu temples in Hyderabad and Secunderabad over the past two years.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar condemned the incident at the Santoshi Mata Temple and said he had spoken to the Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, demanding an immediate investigation and firm action against those responsible. He also called upon the Congress government to ensure the security of temples and devotees, saying such incidents cannot be brushed aside every time.
The incident at Santoshi Mata temple in Dilsukhnagar is outrageous and completely unacceptable.
Spoke to the CP garu and demanded immediate investigation and firm action against those responsible.
The Congress government must ensure the security of temples and devotees.… pic.twitter.com/Hv6zLo6slg
— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) October 2, 2026
“The incident at Santoshi Mata temple in Dilsukhnagar is outrageous and completely unacceptable. Spoke to the CP garu and demanded immediate investigation and firm action against those responsible. The Congress government must ensure the security of temples and devotees. Incidents of this nature cannot be brushed aside everytime.”
BJP Telangana Chief N. Ramchander Rao said on X: “Emboldened by CM Revanth Reddy’s remarks dividing Hindu gods at the direction of Rahul-Priyanka, Mohammed Ansari entered the Santoshi Mata Temple, raised religious slogans, threw sticks at the deity and desecrated it.”
Emboldened by CM Revanth Reddy’s remarks dividing Hindu gods at the direction of Rahul-Priyanka, Mohammed Ansari enters the Santoshi Mata temple, raises religious slogans, throws sticks at the deity and desecrates it.
This falls squarely on CM Revanth Reddy and his appeasement… https://t.co/6Q16eRmelS
— N Ramchander Rao (@N_RamchanderRao) October 2, 2026
VHP National Spokesperson and General Secretary Dr Ravinuthala Shashidhar also condemned the incident and called for strict action against those responsible. In a statement, he said, “The Hindu society will not tolerate attacks on temples. The police should take strict action against the Islamic fanatic jihadi individuals who attacked the Santoshi Mata Temple.”
హిందూ సమాజం దేవాలయాలపై దాడులను సహించదు. సంతోషిమాత దేవాలయంపై దాడి చేసిన ఇస్లా'మిక్ మతోన్మా'ద జీహా'ది వ్యక్తులపై పోలీసులు కఠిన చర్యలు తీసుకోవాలి.@VHPDigital@VHPSocialMedia #dilshuknagar #LBNagarConstituency #hindutemple #JagoHindu pic.twitter.com/NuWwzHNAes
— Dr.Ravinuthala Shashidhar (@shashidhar147) October 2, 2026
The Sri Jagadguru Pushpagiri Shankaracharya Mahasansthanam Peethadhipati Sri Sri Sri Vidyashankara Bharati Swamiji expressed deep concern over the incident at the Sri Santoshi Mata Devasthanam, which is administered by the Pushpagiri Peetham.
Following the incident, devotees and local Hindu organisations demanded strict action against Mohammed Ansari and urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack. They also called upon the Congress government in Telangana to ensure the security of Hindu temples and devotees and take effective measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Recent incidents involving Hindu religious places and celebrations in Hyderabad
The latest incident came during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Hyderabad on September 20, 2026, when three residents of a 2 BHK Police Housing Society in Madannapet — Mohammad Imran Qureshi, Arshiya Begum and Sameena — were detained after a packet containing bones and non-vegetarian food waste was allegedly thrown towards an area where devotees had gathered for a Ganesh immersion procession and an Annadanam programme. Charminar Zone DCP Kiran Khare said the material appeared to be “like beef”, while its exact nature was being verified. Police reportedly registered an FIR under Sections 196(2) and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, read with Section 3(5). Organiser
Earlier in 2026, several incidents involving Hindu temples were reported in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
On February 24, 2026, the Sri Dwimukhi Anjaneya Swamy Temple at Barkas, Hyderabad, was found vandalised. According to a complaint submitted at Chandrayangutta Police Station, the lock of the nearly 200-year-old temple was broken and the main Hanuman murti was damaged by unidentified persons.
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
On January 14, 2026, the historic Puranapool Darwaza Mysamma Temple in Hyderabad was vandalised. Police said an unidentified person entered the temple at around 11:30 pm and damaged a flex banner and a Plaster of Paris murti kept in the veranda.
On January 11, 2026, a 26-year-old man identified as Altaf was arrested following an incident at Katta Maisamma Temple in Safilguda, Secunderabad. He was accused of unlawfully entering the temple premises and engaging in indecent acts, including urinating and defecating there.
On November 9, 2024, three temples — Somayya, Choudamma and Pochamma temples at Jukal village under Shamshabad mandal — were reportedly vandalised. According to report, the murtis were damaged, their garments were removed and the eyes of the deities were damaged.
Earlier in November 2024, Navagraha murtis at a Hanuman Temple in Shamshabad Airport Colony were found damaged.
On October 14, 2024, the Muthyalamma Temple in Kummari Guda, Secunderabad, was attacked. Hyderabad Police identified the accused as Salman Salim Thakur, also known as Salman, a 30-year-old native of Mumbra near Mumbai.
On October 10, 2024, during Navratri celebrations, the Durga Maa murti at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds in Hyderabad was vandalised.
In August 2024, the Bhulakshmi Mata Temple in Rakshapuram, Hyderabad, was vandalised.
