Hyderabad police have moved quickly to contain the fallout from the desecration of the Mysamma temple at Puranapul Darwaza, announcing the arrest of a suspect on Thursday. The apprehension comes less than 24 hours after a damaged flexi banner and a small plaster of Paris idol were discovered in the temple veranda, an incident that triggered a night of intense communal friction and violence.
The discovery on Wednesday night, January 14, sent shockwaves through the area, drawing a crowd of nearly 300 people to the site on the banks of the Musi river. What began as a protest quickly spiralled into a chaotic confrontation. Videos circulating on social media showed a mob damaging graves and religious symbols nearby while chanting slogans. The situation turned even more volatile as the group clashed with officers, hurling stones and setting vehicles on fire.
The intersection became a scene of heavy disruption as a civilian motorcycle was torched and the windshield of a passing truck was smashed, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. At least four police officers and a local resident were injured in the melee. To restore order, police were forced to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the swelling crowd.
Peace was eventually restored after a massive deployment of additional forces. Senior officials, including Additional Commissioner Tafseer Iqbal and DCPs from Charminar and Rajendra Nagar, remained on the ground to oversee the situation.
In a statement following the arrest, the DCP of Rajendra Nagar confirmed that the suspect is currently being interrogated at the Kamatipura Police Station to determine a motive. While the city’s "Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb" was certainly tested by the night’s events, authorities say they are maintaining a strict vigil to ensure that no further flare-ups occur in the sensitive area.
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