Delivery boy arrested for desecrating Shivakumara Swamiji's idol in Bengaluru

The suspect, Shivakumar, 34, a resident of Byadarahalli in west Bengaluru, damaged the idol of Swamiji around 1.30 am on November 30 with a stick, according to the police.

Bnegaluru: The Bengaluru police arrested a delivery executive on Wednesday for allegedly desecrating the idol of the spiritual leader, the late Shivakumara Swamiji, located in south Bengaluru’s Bharat Nagar, last month.

The 34-year-old suspect, Shivakumar, a resident of Byadarahalli in west Bengaluru, damaged the idol around 1.30 am on November 30 with a stick. Following a complaint by a local resident, the Girinagar police filed an FIR under BNS Section 324, which deals with mischief.

An investigator claimed that the suspect was not in a right state of mind, which was corroborated by his family. However, the police are investigating the matter.

Certain sections of the media claimed that Shivakumar’s belief in another faith drove him to this act.

But Lokesh B Jagalasar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), dismissed this claim and said that the suspect had been remanded to judicial custody.

Appalling, says Archdiocese

“The reported confession by the alleged culprit, claiming that he was motivated by a dream involving Lord Jesus, is both baseless and appalling. Such statements seem to be an attempt to sow discord and create communal tension,” a release by the Archdiocese of Bangalore said.

“On behalf of the Archdiocese of Bangalore and the Catholic community, I condemn this reprehensible act. We urge the police to conduct an impartial investigation, ensuring that the individual responsible is held accountable, irrespective of his background or affiliations.”