Fact Check: Video of vandalism of Durga idol in Hyderabad shared with communal angle
Amid nationwide Durga Puja celebrations, a video of a vandalised Durga idol in Hyderabad has gone viral.
By Sibahathulla Sakib Published on 13 Oct 2024 11:38 AM GMT
Claim: The video shows a Goddess Durga idol in Hyderabad that was vandalised by Muslims.
Fact: The claim is false. The vandalism did not have a religious motive. The police said that the perpetrator was mentally ill.
Hyderabad: Durga Puja is one of the most significant and revered occasions for Hindus, celebrated during Shardiya Navratri across India in honour of Goddess Durga. Recently, a video claiming to show a Durga idol pandal in Hyderabad allegedly vandalised by Muslims has gone viral.
An X user shared the video with the caption, āThis is Pakistan or Bangladesh, this is Hyderabad. Muslims vandalised a Mathe Durga idol in Hyderabad.ā (Translated from Kannada) (Archive)
The 1:36-minute video shows police examining a damaged Durga idol inside a pandal, where its right hand appears to be broken and offerings are scattered at the idolās feet.
The video can be seen shared here and here. (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The police confirmed that the reason for the vandalism was not communal.
A reverse image search led us to a report from Telangana Today, dated October 11, 2024, titled āHyderabad: Police crack case of Durga idol vandalism, nab one.ā
The screengrab/photos from the viral video can be seen in the report.
According to the report, the Begum Bazaar police identified and arrested Krishnaiah Goud, a resident of Nagarkurnool, in connection with the vandalism. During a press conference, Central Zone DCP Akshansh Yadav stated that Goud was mentally unstable and had come to the venue in search of food.
A keyword search led to a report from ANI News on October 12, 2024, titled āTelangana: One arrested for damaging Goddess Durga idol, event organizers booked too.ā
The report stated that the police also charged the event organisers due to their negligence. According to DCP Yadav, the organisers failed to provide adequate supervision despite having listed volunteers to oversee the idolās safety.
Hence, the claim that Muslims vandalised a Durga idol in Hyderabad is false.
