Vandalizing idols: Hyderabad police say accused mentally unsound; SM users give communal spin

On 27 September, two burqa-clad Muslim women were arrested for allegedly vandalizing idols of Mother Mary and the Hindu deity Durga in the Khairatabad area of Hyderabad.

One of the women also attempted to attack a local with a spanner when he tried to stop her. Both of them were caught by the locals and handed over to Saidabad police.

Social media users are trying to give communal color to the incident. A Twitter user wrote, "In Hyderabad - 2 women in BorkhaVandalised Ma Durga Murti during Nav-Ratri festival? Shame on Hindus when Anti-National Anti Social Jihadis Broke Hindu Goddesses we can't do anything; Sad is we can't even take their Names - SUCH FEAR OF RIOTS - What is the use of Police, then?"

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Another Twitter user questioned the police. If the women are mentally ill, why they did not go to Masjid or Darga to do the same?

Fact Check

NewsMeter ran a keyword to search about the incident and found the police statement on the incident reported by ANI.

"Four people — mother, father, and the two girls-live together. They are mentally unsound and have psychological issues. They returned from Jeddah in 2018 and were facing this since then," said DCP Rajesh, Central Zone Hyderabad in a press conference.

The accused's brother Asimduddin, who was also present during the press conference said his mother and sisters are suffering from schizophrenia. He apologized on their behalf. Police also confirmed that the case has been registered under 153-A, 295, 295-A, 451, 504 r/w 34 IPC sections of IPC. And since his brother claims that they have a psychiatric issue, we will first refer them to the government hospital and then produce them before the Magistrate.

Hence, the claim of the communal angle about the incident is misleading.