Hyderabad: BJP Leader Madhavi Latha Detained During Protest Over Alleged Temple Vandalism

The Hyderabad Police detained BJP leader Madhavi Latha and several party workers during a protest over the alleged vandalism of the Muthyalamma temple in Secunderabad’s Mondal division on Monday. Madhavi Latha, while being taken into custody, expressed her readiness for the consequences, stating, "They are taking me to jail for protesting the vandalisation of Mata's idol."

Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy visited the temple complex following the incident. Speaking to reporters, he condemned the act, alleging that a person from the minority community attempted to damage the idol around 4 AM. 

#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: Police detain Madhavi Latha and other BJP leaders and workers as they were protesting over the alleged vandalisation of Muthyalamma temple idol in Kurmaguda.

Madhavi Latha says "They are taking me to the jail for protesting over the vandalisation… https://t.co/U7TcUnoO5O pic.twitter.com/9Wx2GJrgbx

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024

''This is shameful. Some people saw him, caught him and handed him over to the police,'' Reddy said. The BJP leader claimed that the motive was not theft but an attempt to insult the Hindu community. He alleged that such incidents were part of a pattern of deliberate provocations aimed at inciting communal tensions in Hyderabad.

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G Kishan Reddy also urged Telangana's Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to investigate the incident. He called for enhanced security measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras and police pickets at sensitive locations to prevent future occurrences. The police commissioner was summoned to the site to begin an inquiry.

The local community held protests outside the Muthyalamma temple, demanding swift action against the perpetrators. Police were deployed to manage the situation.

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This incident follows another case of vandalism on October 12, when a man was arrested for allegedly damaging a Durga idol at a Puja pandal in Hyderabad. The man reportedly disturbed the idol while searching for food. BJP leaders have since demanded a thorough investigation into both incidents, expressing concerns over possible motives to incite unrest.