Fact Check: Shamshabad’s Hanuman temple vandalism; viral claims of communal angle are false
Police claim man responsible for Hyderabad temple’s vandalism is suffering from mental health issues.
By Sibahathulla Sakib Published on 9 Nov 2024 7:10 AM GMT
Claim: A Hanuman temple in Shamshabad, Hyderabad, was desecrated due to communal hatred.
Fact: The claim is false. Shamshabad police official said the suspect detained is a man with mental health issues and denied any communal motive.
Hyderabad: On November 5, a Hanuman temple in Airport Colony, Shamshabad, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, was discovered vandalised with five Navagraha idols damaged.
The temple priest noticed the alleged desecration during his morning rituals and notified the authorities immediately. Police arrived promptly and began the investigation, suspecting that the incident occurred late on the previous night. Local BJP leaders soon gathered at the site, demanding strict punishment for those responsible. Some right-wing groups called for a bandh in the area on November 6, urging swift action through arrests.
In this context, a video showing the damaged temple and idols went viral on social media, with some users suggesting a communal motive.
An X user shared the video and wrote “Shocking vandalism strikes again: Hindu temple in Shamshabad, Hyderabad, desecrated.” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)
Similar claims in circulation are here and here. (Archive 1, Archive 2)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. Police claim that the suspect detained is a man with mental health issues.
A keyword search led to a report from The Hindu titled ‘Man held for vandalization at Shamshabad’s Hanuman Temple,’ dated November 5, 2024.
The report stated the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) police arrested a 56-year-old man named Korpal. Korpal was taken into custody by the police stating that he suffers from mental health issues and has not been able to provide coherent details about himself. They had to use other sources to identify him.
A report from Latestly, titled ‘Hyderabad Hanuman Temple Vandalism: 50-Year-Old UP Man Arrested After Idols of Navagraha Damaged in Shamshabad (Watch Video),’ on November 5, also stated that the police arrested an elderly man for the incident at the temple.
This report also named the suspect Korpal, son of Sriputhri Lal Ganapati Singh, hailing from Dansing Pur village in the Sirpura district of Uttar Pradesh.
NewsMeter also spoke with Shamshabad ACP K Srinivas Rao, who confirmed over the phone that the person in custody is mentally ill. Additionally, we couldn’t find official reports suggesting that the incident had a religious or a communal motive.
Hence, the claim that there is a communal motive for the vandalism at the Hanuman Temple in Hyderabad is false. Police findings and media reports do not support the idea of religious targeting; instead, they indicate that the person responsible is mentally ill.
