A 56-year-old man in Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, was charged with vandalizing a Lord Hanuman idol at a village temple following his one-month-old grandson’s demise. The incident took place in Balhaya village under the Amilia police station jurisdiction. The accused, identified as Rambhuvan Dwivedi, allegedly destroyed the idol while mourning the infant’s passing.
According to reports, Dwivedi’s grandson was admitted to the ICU of Sidhi District Hospital on July 4 due to pneumonia. Family members had pledged to hold a community feast, prayers, and bhajan-kirtan at the Hanuman temple if the child recovered. Unfortunately, the infant’s health deteriorated, and he passed away around 8 p.m. on Monday, with his body brought back to the village that night.
On Tuesday morning, Dwivedi visited the Hanuman temple on his property and damaged the idol before sitting nearby in a distressed state. Villagers noticed the desecrated idol and alerted the authorities. Police arrived, examined the temple, and gathered statements from locals.
Authorities stated that the incident seemed to occur due to Dwivedi’s emotional turmoil over his grandson’s death. However, a case has been filed under Sections 298 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for hurting religious sentiments. The broken idol has been removed, and the village remains calm.
Officials assured that the situation is under control, with no disturbances reported. Villagers highlighted the family’s deep religious beliefs and reliance on Lord Hanuman for the child’s recovery. Dwivedi was described as deeply shocked by the tragic event. Police mentioned providing support to the grieving family during the investigation.
