New Delhi: Close on the heels of a Mandir being burnt by Islamists in Khyber province of Pakistan, a 400-year-old Murti of Bhagwan Ram was damaged and vandalised by unidentified miscreants in Mellimarla mandal area of Andhra Pradesh.
The visuals and images of a damaged idol, with head severed and hands damaged, left the social media users gasping in horror and wondering whether Hindus and their mandirs and their religion were not safe even in India where they ostensibly are in majority.
According to reports, the idol was worshipped at a hill top temple in Nellimarla mandal of Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
Reports say that the miscreants might have done it after the Mandir closed for the day.
According to reports, the miscreants not only broke open the lock of the temple and got inside, but also ‘severed’ the head of Bhagwan Kodandaramudu (Ram) from the murti.
The news of the mandir being burnt and destroyed in Pakistan was not carried by most of the English news media in India.
Even the vandalising of 400-year-old Murti in Andhra Pradesh was not carried by the English media the way it normally does whenever even a stone is thrown at a minority place of worship.
The issue was being debated hotly on social media, although the mainstream English media chose largely to give it a pass.
In fact, many portals and newspapers used the word ‘idol’ and a few even used the word ‘bust’ for the Murti.
This has not gone unnoticed on the social media and users are discussing the issue with anger.
Reports say that the Murti was in a Mandir that has a rich history of 400 years. The Main Mandir is situated at the foot of the hill, the Murti was damaged in the Mandir that was situated on the top of the hill.
The same Pujari looks after both the Mandir. Police have been informed and investigations are on.
The leaders from BJP staged a dharna demanding immediate action and arrest of the accused. Actor-politician and chief of Jan Sena Party Pawan Kalyan criticised the YS government and said that this was a part of a grand conspiracy to attack Hindu Mandir under a plan.
