On November 30, 2024, a statue of Lingayat seer Shivakumar Swami in Veerabhadra Nagar, Bangaluru, was vandalized, triggering widespread anger and protests. Srikrishna, a 37-year-old delivery executive from Andhra Pradesh, has been identified as the accused. He reportedly claimed his actions were driven by a vision of Jesus Christ in a dream, a statement that has added to the controversy.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 am, with Srikrishna allegedly approaching and partially defacing the statue before fleeing. The damage was discovered by residents the following morning, who immediately informed the authorities. Recognizing the sensitivity of the situation, police acted swiftly, apprehending Srikrishna and charging him under Section 324 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Officials are also probing whether mental health issues played a role in the act.
Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, strongly condemned the vandalism and Srikrishna’s justification, calling it baseless and divisive. He urged people to reject any attempts to incite communal discord. “Disrespecting a saint like Shivakumar Swami Ji, who epitomized peace and secularism, is unacceptable,” said the archbishop.
The incident has underscored the importance of fostering communal harmony while ensuring justice is served in a balanced and fair manner.
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