Uneasy calm in Secunderabad; heavy police deployment around Muthyalamma temple

The entire temple area has been barricaded and people are not being allowed to pass through the area. Even locals are being stopped and allowed after providing proof that they reside in that area

Hyderabad: A day after massive protests against the alleged vandalism and desecration at the Muthyalamma temple located near the Clock Tower in the Secunderabad area, which turned violent on Saturday, an uneasy calm prevails in the area on Sunday.

A heavy reinforcement of police has been deployed in the area to keep an eye on anti-social elements trying to breach peace. Over 150 security personnel, including paramilitary force and task force officials have been deployed at the temple and surrounding areas.

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The entire temple area has been barricaded and people are not being allowed to pass through the area. Even locals are being stopped and allowed after providing proof that they reside in that area.

The police have closed the shops situated near the temple and are not allowing vehicles to pass through the route. A few youngsters from Dilsukhnagar who tried to enter the temple area were stopped and sent back. They claimed that they visit the temple every week and that they just wanted to offer prayers in a peaceful manner and leave the venue.

Locals complained that they were suffering due the presence of police personnel and the visit of members of various organisations and political parties.

“We want the government to end the crisis that started due to the desecration of the idol. We want peace. We have been suffering for over a week,” said Srinivas Chary, who resides beside the temple.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had called for a State-wide protest on Saturday, alleging that the State government had been negligent in preventing attacks on Hindu temples in the State.

VHP National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal stated that the protest is scheduled to take place in all district centres of the State. The protest follows reports of an alleged attack on the idol, which has sparked widespread anger among the devotees and locals.

On October 14, Salman Salim Thakur alias Salman, an engineering graduate from Maharashtra, allegedly entered into the sanctum-sanctorum of Muthyalamma temple in Secunderabad in the early hours and desecrated the main idol of the temple, triggering protests by local people, Hindu organisations and BJP.