Jaipur, March 29 (IANS) The police arrested an accused for vandalising the idol of folk deity Veer Tejaji Maharaj at the temple, located in Pratap Nagar Sector-3 of the Sanganer police station area in Jaipur.
The incident, which occurred on Friday night, was allegedly carried out by anti-social elements.
Officials arrested Siddharth Singh (34), a resident of Bichwal Bikaner Hall, Street No. 3, Rajapark.
Initial investigations suggest that Singh, who earlier was running a restaurant, was also struggling with financial difficulties following its closure. This distress allegedly led him to commit the act of vandalism.
DCP (East) Tejaswani Gautam stated that three separate cases have been registered at the Sanganer police station concerning the incident which includes cases related to vandalism filed by the temple priest Manoj for the destruction of the idols; damage to government property and arson registered by the police; petrol pump vandalism and attempted arson filed by petrol pump manager Ramesh, citing damage and an attempt to set fire to the petrol pump.
According to Additional DCP Asharam Chaudhary, before committing the crime, Siddharth Singh consumed alcohol with a friend at a hotel and then left for Rajapark.
On his way, he fed stray dogs before heading to the temple. Once there, he recorded a video, expressed his anger, and then vandalised the idols, allegedly blaming divine forces for his misfortunes. After committing the act, he returned home and later confessed to his fiancee, admitting that he had made a grave mistake by vandalising the temple in Sanganer. His fiancee later informed others about the incident, leading to further tension in the community. In response to the vandalism, outraged locals took to Tonk Road, staging protests by burning tyres and forcing nearby shops to close.
The demonstrators demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the desecration. Some agitators in the crowd also broke through police barricades. When officers attempted to control the situation, a group of miscreants entered a nearby petrol pump and attempted arson and further vandalism. As tensions escalated, the police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Ultimately, authorities arrested multiple individuals involved in the unrest.
As many as 20 people have been detained and are currently under interrogation. The police continue to investigate the case to determine if others were involved and to prevent further disturbances. Authorities have assured the public that strict action will be taken against those responsible for both the vandalism and the subsequent riots.
The incident has sparked widespread debate, with community leaders calling for peace and justice while law enforcement remains vigilant to maintain order in the area.
–IANS
arc/uk
