Image for representation.
An individual accused of tearing a flexi banner and a plaster of Paris (gypsum) idol at the Puranapul Darwaza Temple was arrested by the Hyderabad police within 24 hours of the incident that led to mob violence and an attack on police personnel.
According to the police, the incident was reported around 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) when the accused entered the gateway known as Puranapool Darwaza and partially damaged a flexi banner and a POP idol placed in the temple verandah. A case was booked by the Kamatipura police and an investigation, was launched. Officials collected CCTV footage and other evidence from the scene.
Based on technical inputs and leads gathered during the probe, the suspect was traced and taken into custody on Thursday (January 15, 2026). Police said he did not enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and that the main idol remained untouched. Senior officers clarified that claims circulating on social media about the destruction of the main idol were false and intended to provoke unrest.
Soon after the vandalism came to light, tension escalated in the area, with a mob of around 300 people gathering near the temple. The crowd vandalised a nearby religious structure and attacked police personnel who were deployed to control the situation. Four police personnel sustained serious injuries in the violence.
A separate case was registered in connection with the attack on the police and the vandalism carried out by the mob. Investigators have identified several individuals involved in the violence using CCTV footage and video recordings, and police said stringent legal action would be initiated against all those responsible.
Officials stated that the situation in the Puranapul area is now fully under control. The Hyderabad police have appealed to citizens to remain calm, not to believe rumours or malicious propaganda, and to refrain from sharing unverified content on social media. They also warned that strict action would be taken against those spreading fake news or taking the law into their own hands.
Published – January 16, 2026 08:58 am IST
