Miscreants dislodge, deface Naga idols at temple, locals demand strict action

BENGALURU: Miscreants removed Naga idols from their place and defaced them at Muneshwara Swamy temple near Bapuji Nagar on Friday.

The temple has its own history and hundreds of devotees offer prayers every day. It is suspected that the miscreants may have come in the afternoon and the act came to light when the priest returned in the evening to conduct puja.

Locals too complained about anti-social elements creating nuisance in the locality. It is alleged that a gang of youths who were high on ganja, were pelting stones on devotees. A park, which is located  in front of the temple has become a hub of immoral activities for bullies, they said.

Mahendra Singh of Sri Rama Sene claimed that the place turned into a hub for drug abuse.

Mahendra Singh of Sri Rama Sene claimed that the place turned into a hub for drug abuse. “Women and girls can’t even enter this area after 6 pm. The BBMP is not maintaining the park well and some bullies trespass through a hole though the park is locked. The authorities did not respond to our complaint, so we are planning to clean up the area ourselves. If anyone questions about immoral activities with youths in the park, they will attack us. Some people burnt Hindu flags and stole money from the donation box of the temple. An FIR has been registered  at Byatarayanapura police station and the commissioner promised to provide police security”.

Divya Shri, a local resident.

Local resident Divya Shri said, “If we question the youths, they ask who we are to question them. They drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and consume drugs till morning. Drunkards throw bottles and other waste here. This has been happening for 10 years. We are scared to send our children to the park, because it may influence them. None of the officials take responsibility for controlling illegal activities in public places”.

Mohan of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, while condemning the act of miscreants.

Mohan of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, while condemning the act of miscreants, said “This is very bad and hurts the feelings of Hindus. Some people burnt a ‘Om’ flag in the same place in 2020, but no one was arrested in this case even after a complaint was registered. There is suspicion about the involvement of the land mafia. This shows that Hindu temples are not safe. The government should take it seriously”, he stressed.