Bengaluru: Bengaluru Police have arrested a 37-year-old man for allegedly defacing a statue of revered Lingayat seer Shivakumar Swami at the Siddaganga Mutt area on November 30. The accused, working as a delivery person, is a native of Andhra Pradesh and a Hindu converted to Christianity.
Although the accused, Sri Krishna, confessed to vandalising the statue during interrogation, it was the explanation he gave to the cops that left them gobsmacked. He claimed that Jesus Christ came in his dream and “inspired” him to deface the statue.
The incident occurred around 1:30 am in Bengaluru’s Veerabhadra Nagar, where Srikrishna allegedly approached a statue and partially defaced it before fleeing the scene. The desecration was discovered by local residents the following morning, NDTV reported.
The defacement triggered protests in the area, with residents demanding swift action against the accused. Police responded promptly, arresting Srikrishna and presenting him in court, remanding him to judicial custody.
Dr Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, condemned the accused’s actions and justification as “baseless and reprehensible,” urging the public to resist any attempts at communal provocation.
“The purpose of such statements is only to spread communal tension and discord. This disrespect towards a great saint like Shivakumar Swami Ji, a symbol of peace, compassion and secular values, is unacceptable,” the Archbishop said.
The police are now investigating whether Srikrishna’s mental health may have contributed to the crime. A medical examination has already been conducted, and further evaluations are ongoing. However, authorities are being cautious about attributing the act solely to psychological factors without a comprehensive investigation.
Shivakumar Swami, revered as a “walking god,” was a respected Lingayat seer known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in the fields of education and providing for the underprivileged. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 111.
