Sonu Kumar of Bihar has been arrested for damaging the Shiv Temple in Ludhiana, Punjab
Unknown individuals vandalized idols after forcibly entering a local temple in the Sahnewal area during the night between Monday and Tuesday, just before Mahashivratri.
In response to the incident, several Hindu groups organized a protest on Tuesday, demanding the arrest of the perpetrators.
Who is Sonu Kumar of Bihar who vandalized Shiv Temple and broke idols in Sahnewal Ludhiana, Punjab
I totally agree with @AmarJit_IFS ji.
Sikhs were bulldozed and bullied for vandalism in a temple in Ludhiana, but when the police arrested 'Sonu Kumar', all these hate-mongers suddenly became dead silent and didn't even bother to tell their followers who was responsible for the… https://t.co/7F4owRD1B6 pic.twitter.com/OugNQ0FAb8
— Tracking Hate Against Sikhs (@thaSikhs) March 1, 2024
On Wednesday, the police reported that a disgruntled donor’s altercation with the priest resulted in the defacement of 14 idols at Sahnewal’s Shiv Temple.
It is very painful that Idols were destroyed in a Temple, but please don't bring your hate filled ideology in Punjab. We Punjabis live with brotherhood and respect all religions. This was done by Sonu Kumar who's from Bihar. pic.twitter.com/6Etn3dCj7S
— Parminder Singh (@PSMangat) March 1, 2024
Police Investigation
Subsequent to the demonstration, the Sahnewal police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the unidentified offenders for causing harm to religious sentiments and launched an investigation.
As per reports, Hindu organizations issued a four-day ultimatum to the police, demanding the swift identification of the accused.
They warned that if the perpetrators were not apprehended within the specified timeframe, they would organize protests and present the vandalized idols to the police commissioner and deputy commissioner as a symbolic act of dissent.
Later, authorities identified accused as Sonu Kumar, aged 24 and a resident of Pava village in Bihar, and apprehended them. Guriqbal Singh, the assistant sub-inspector (south), reported that the temple’s priest observed the act of vandalism and promptly notified the police.
Investigating the case, law enforcement identified the suspect, revealed the official. “The accused, Kumar, has a connection with the priest. He asserts that he made a donation to the temple and frequently inquired about it.
“A dispute arose between the priest and Sonu regarding this matter a few days ago. It was due to this argument that Sonu committed the crime,” the Assistant Commissioner of Police elaborated.
What Did Chairman of Shiv Sena Say?
Rajiv Tandon, the chairman of Shiv Sena Punjab, revealed that the incident came to attention on Tuesday morning when the temple priest discovered the damaged idols.
Upon informing the police, Hindu leaders swiftly gathered at the site and staged a protest.
Tandon stated that with the Mahashivratri festival approaching, there have been deliberate acts of vandalism against idols by anti-social elements.
Their motive is to offend the religious sentiments of Hindus and incite disturbance in the city’s law and order.
In Ludhiana, a migrant Sonu Kumar destroyed & vandalized idols at a Shiv Mandir.
There have been many instances in past where ppl are being sent for Money to damage/attack religious places, mostly by other state/religion ppl to make it communal issue.
Please be aware & also not… pic.twitter.com/RuNoNd3363
— Gss🇮🇳 (@Gss_Views) March 1, 2024
Tandon emphasized that this is not the first occurrence of such incidents. Previously, before the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, anti-social elements had thrown the severed head of a calf on Chandigarh Road, aiming to hurt religious sentiments.
Subsequently, a calf’s leg was also discovered in the area, and the police were unsuccessful in tracing the culprits.
Inspector Guljinder Singh, the SHO of Sahnewal police station, mentioned that a case under Section 295a of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been filed against apprehended individuals.