Amaravati, December 31, 2025: A man named Seelam Srinivas from Thotapeta village was arrested on Wednesday for vandalising a centuries-old Shiva Lingam at the revered Bhimeswara Swamy Temple in Draksharamam, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
The act happened late Monday night near the Kapileswar Ghat steps by the temple pond, discovered by devotees Tuesday morning on a sacred day. Police reviewed footage from 50 CCTV cameras and formed special teams to identify and detain him swiftly.
The motive stemmed from a local grudge: Srinivas clashed with a temple priest over a drain construction that affected his home, plus a prior land issue. Authorities stress it was personal, not communal. A new Lingam was consecrated immediately to restore calm.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed the Endowments Minister to enhance temple security statewide to prevent repeats. The case is filed under relevant BNS sections, with the suspect in custody.
