Petrol bomb hurled at temple, arrest made
An incident at the Sriveerabhadra Swamy Temple in Chennai on Tuesday morning has shocked devotees and locals. The temple, located in the bustling market area of Kothawalchavadi, experienced a terrifying event when a man hurled a petrol bomb inside the sanctum sanctorum.
As the temple was being opened on Tuesday, a mysterious individual entered the temple premises and threw a petrol bomb at the idol of Swami, causing a loud explosion and a fire. Devotees and priests scrambled out of the temple in panic, while over five jugs of water were poured to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading to the idol.
Thankfully, swift action by Constable Ramamurthy of the Kothavalchavadi Traffic Division led to the arrest of the assailant, identified as Murali Krishnan, 39, a notorious rowdy with a criminal history. Krishnan was later apprehended and charged under several sections of the law, including the Explosives Act, for the petrol bomb attack.
In a shocking revelation, Krishnan confessed to the police that he was frustrated due to losses in his cashew business and turned to terrorism as a result. His statement has raised concerns over the safety of devotional spaces and the influence of religious fundamentalism in the region.
Following the incident, Justice Niranjan visited the temple premises to inspect the damage caused by the petrol bombing, while forensic science experts and the police continued their investigation.
This attack comes in the wake of several bomb-related incidents in the region, further raising concerns over the growing culture of petrol bombing in Tamil Nadu. With the NIA suggesting the presence of terrorist forces and religious radicalization in the state, there is an urgent call for a thorough and comprehensive investigation into these incidents.
– Our Correspondent –