Sacred Shivalinga at ancient Hindu temple desecrated by miscreant in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh, India 
28 December, 2025
Case Summary
A Hindu temple named Sri Bhimeshwara Swamy Temple in Draksharamam, Andhra Pradesh, was targeted, and its sacred Shivalinga was desecrated by a miscreant. This sacred site is one of the revered Pancharama temples, and the attack took place on 29 December 2025, in the temple’s pond area, a spot where devotees traditionally take a holy dip and pray. On the following day, when devotees arrived at the temple to celebrate the auspicious Vaikunta Ekadasi, they were heartbroken to find the sacred Shivalinga vandalised. Following this, the police quickly launched a massive investigation, with Superintendent Rahul Meena forming four special teams to track down those responsible. By reviewing the CCTV footage from the Sapta Godavari riverfront, officers successfully identified and detained the perpetrator, a man named Neelam Srinivas from Thotapeta village. Investigators claimed that the destruction stemmed from a personal grudge; Srinivas had recently argued heatedly with a temple priest over ritual performance, and hence he destroyed the Shivalinga as a way to seek revenge. The incident drew immediate attention from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who monitored the situation from abroad and demanded a transparent probe. To restore the temple’s sanctity and calm public emotions, authorities held a ceremony to install and consecrate a new Shivalinga. Endowments Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy confirmed that security received permanent enhancement with more cameras and increased patrolling. Moving forward, the police and the Archaeology Department worked together on a strict action plan to protect these ancient holy sites from such disrespectful attacks.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The other subcategory selected is- Attack on Temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This case stands as a clear instance of a religiously motivated crime as the accused targeted a sacred Hindu temple and smashed a Shivalinga, a holy religious symbol. In the Hindu community, temples rank as sacred institutions pulsing with millennia of devotion, rituals, and collective memory. Hindus hold them inviolable, viewing attacks on these sites as direct assaults on their faith itself. Here, the accused desecrated the sacred Shivalinga at Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Temple, one of the revered Pancharama Kshetras, smashing it in the temple pond where devotees immerse themselves in prayer. This deliberate vandalism shattered not just stone, but the living embodiment of Lord Shiva, wounding the religious sentiments of countless worshippers who arrived for Vaikunta Ekadasi to find their holy site profaned. The Shivalinga holds unparalleled reverence among Hindus as the manifest form of Lord Shiva, a symbol of cosmic creation and eternal energy worshipped through fervent rituals. Devotees pour milk, offer bilva leaves, and circumambulate it in deep meditation, forging an unbreakable bond with the deity. By targeting and demolishing this sacred idol, the accused struck at the heart of Hindu worship, revealing religious animosity. Such desecration of Hindu symbols transcends mere damage; it mocks the faith's core, marking this as a clear religiously motivated hate crime. Investigators claimed that the accused had a personal feud with a temple priest over rituals, but this rings hollow as a justification. If grievance truly drove him, legal channels or direct confrontation sufficed, yet he chose to smash the Shivalinga, an act demonstrating utter disregard for its sanctity. This selective assault on Hinduism's holiest symbol exposes underlying religious hatred, not petty revenge, amplifying the hurt for the Hindu community. Since this case meets the parameters of a religiously motivated hate crime, it has been added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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