Hubballi: In a disturbing act of vandalism, miscreants have damaged the four hands of the Lord Dattatreya idol at the Sri Guru Dattatreya Temple, situated within the Aparna Apartment complex near the old Desai Gas Godown in Deshpande Nagar. The incident came to light when the temple priest arrived for the morning prayers on Sunday.
The desecration took place in the early hours of Sunday, shortly after the residents of the apartment complex and locals had participated in Navratri festivities, including a dandiya programme that lasted until 1 AM. The temple, which has been a significant part of the community since the idol’s installation in 2011, has never experienced such an incident before.
Outrage has swept through the community, with apartment residents and local citizens gathering at the site in large numbers upon discovering the vandalism. Local MLA Mahesh Tenginkai expressed his anger, demanding swift justice, saying, “Whoever the miscreants are who damaged the idol must be arrested immediately. The police should take appropriate action against such individuals.”
The incident has raised concerns over security, especially during festival seasons. Local authorities have launched an investigation, and additional police personnel have been deployed in the area to ensure peace and prevent further incidents.