Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India – Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district have taken legal action against a Hindu temple priest for allegedly breaking a Ganesh idol and falsely accusing two Muslim men of the act. The incident occurred in Taulihawah village, where the priest, identified as Krich Ram, filed a complaint at the Kathela Samaymata police station on July 16.
In his complaint, Krich Ram accused Mannan and Sonu, both Muslims, of desecrating the idol and threatening him to prevent him from conducting religious activities like puja and kirtan. He also alleged that the accused physically assaulted his wife when she intervened.
A team of local police, the circle and the local sub-divisional magistrate visited the spot to further investigate the matter. What they found was that it was not the two Muslim men but the priest himself who had broken the Ganesha idol. The police relied on the testimony of some children who were witness to the act. They then interrogated the priest.
“During investigation it came to light that when the idols were broken, three-four children aged 8-10 were playing there. The kids told us, ‘Sadhu baba broke the idol’. Believing them, we interrogated pujari ji in an intense manner,” said officer Kumar.
In the FIR, seen by The Wire, Krich Ram gave the incident a clear communal colour. Referring to the two accused, he said they “are Muslims.”
The police investigation revealed that the allegations were false, and the priest himself was responsible for breaking the idol. Legal action has been initiated against Krich Ram for filing a false complaint and attempting to incite communal tensions.
Source: The Wire