A man has been arrested after attempting to vandalize a Hindu temple in Wembley, London. The incident occurred at the Eelapatheeswarar Alayam Temple on Union Road on Saturday. The perpetrator, dressed in a hoodie with a face mask on, entered the temple carrying a book and refusing to remove his boots. He went on to try and throw a sacred murti and break a diya inside the temple.
Rajasingham Jayadevan, the founder and general secretary of the temple, explained that the temple staff confronted the intruder and asked him to remove his boots and lower his hoodie. He initially left but soon returned and headed straight to the section of the temple where the deities are located. There, he attempted to grab and smash the Lakshmi deity. Fortunately, the quick actions of the temple manager prevented any damage. The intruder then proceeded to the Navagraha stand and smashed a diya on the structures. He even tried to shake one of the Navagrahas.
Devotees soon intervened and brought the man to the front of the temple, where they held him until the police arrived. According to Jayadevan, the intruder was reciting Quranic verses during the ordeal. The situation escalated when the man assaulted a police officer who was attempting to arrest him. As a precaution, he was taken to the hospital due to an elevated heart rate before being apprehended by the police.
The Eelapatheeswarar Alayam Temple, established three decades ago, predominantly attracts devotees of South Indian origin from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Bihar.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police stated that they received a call reporting a disturbance caused by a man inside the Hindu temple in Wembley. The 22-year-old suspect was detained by the officers and subsequently taken into custody on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. However, no one present wished to substantiate any related criminal allegations, which explains why he was not arrested for vandalism.
The incident has left the Hindu community shocked and concerned about the security of their places of worship. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the intruder’s actions.
In conclusion, a man has been apprehended after attempting to cause damage inside a Hindu temple in Wembley. The swift response of the temple staff and vigilant devotees prevented any serious harm to the sacred artifacts. The incident highlights the need for heightened security measures to ensure the safety of places of worship and the peace of mind of the worshippers.
