Andhra: Bhadrachalam Temple EO attacked by land grabbers in Alluri Sitarama Raju District

Bhadrachalam: In a shocking incident, the Executive Officer of the historic Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple at Bhadrachalam was attacked by villagers in Purushothapatnam of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday when she tried to stop illegal constructions on temple land.

EO becomes unconscious after attack

Executive Officer L Rama Devi, who went to inspect the encroached land, was assaulted by encroachers and became unconscious during the attack. She was immediately shifted to a private hospital in Bhadrachalam for treatment. An outsourcing employee accompanying her also fell ill after the incident and was admitted to hospital.

Land under dispute since State bifurcation

The Bhadrachalam temple in Telangana’s Bhadradri Kothagudem district owns around 890 acres in Purushothapatnam, a village transferred to Andhra Pradesh following the state’s bifurcation in 2014. Despite a High Court order directing restoration of the land to the temple, encroachments have continued.

Minister warns encroachers

Telangana Endowments Minister Konda Surekha condemned the attack, stating that assaults on temple officials would not be tolerated. She warned that the Preventive Detention Act would be invoked against those involved in illegal occupation of temple land. The minister also urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to resolve the long-standing issue.

Land location and bifurcation background

The encroached land is located just two kilometres from Bhadrachalam temple town on the banks of the Godavari River and is worth several crores of rupees.

Post-bifurcation, Bhadrachalam town and temple remained with Telangana, while 211 surrounding villages under seven mandals, including Purushothapatnam, were transferred to Andhra Pradesh for the Polavaram irrigation project submergence.