Protests erupted in the temple town of Draksharamam on Tuesday following the vandalism of a sacred Shivalinga at the renowned Bheemeswara Swamy Temple. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the community, occurred at one of the holy Pancharama Kshetras dedicated to Lord Shiva in Andhra Pradesh's Konaseema district.
Temple Vandalism Triggers Public Outrage
The damaged Shivalinga is situated at the Kapileswar Ghat on the banks of the Saptha Godavari canal, within the temple's Koneru (tank). It is located outside the main temple premises. The act of desecration by unknown miscreants quickly angered devotees and local residents, who took to the streets to stage a strong protest, demanding swift action against the perpetrators.
Police Investigation and Political Condemnation
In response to the crime, the police have swung into action. Ramachandrapuram DSP Raghuveer confirmed that six special teams have been formed to investigate the incident. The focus of the probe is to determine whether the culprits acted intentionally or if other mischievous individuals were involved in this shameful act.
The vandalism has drawn sharp condemnation from political leaders. BJP state general secretary S. Laxmi Prasanna and BJP district president Adabala Satyanarayana have strongly criticized the incident. They urged the state government to take immediate steps to apprehend the criminals responsible for damaging the religious idol.
Chief Minister Directs Stern Action
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu took serious note of the incident and personally spoke to Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy. The minister informed the CM that he was in constant touch with the district collector, the Superintendent of Police, and the district in-charge minister regarding the developments.
Minister Anam also updated the Chief Minister that the police teams are actively working to trace the culprits. CM Naidu has directed the minister to ensure stern action is taken against those found guilty and to keep him informed of all progress. In a positive update, the minister confirmed that the damaged Shivalingam has already been restored in the presence of Endowments department authorities.
