Christians arrested in Andhra Pradesh for alleged involvement in vandalism of temple statue

Two Christians have been arrested in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh for their alleged involvement in the recent vandalism of a temple statue.

According to Pastor Prabhu Dass of Adilabad, some time back, some unidentified miscreants entered a Hindu temple in the Pippalwada village in Jainath Mandal near Adilabad and broke the idol of Hindu god Ganapati.

The issue remained quiet till some disgruntled elements raked it up during the recent Peerla festival.

While taking out the jatara, someone said he had a divine darshan (vision) telling him it was Vinod, a Christian living in the village, who broke the idol.

Hearing this, the villagers complained to the police alleging Vinod's involvement in the vandalism. Immediately the police arrested Vinod and took him into custody.

Shankar Paul, another Christian in whose house Vinod was working, later got him released.

However, later the villagers began alleging Shankar Paul’s involvement and accused him of instigating Vinod to destroy the idol. Based on the complaint filed by them against Shankar, the police took him also into custody.

The matter is presently under investigation.