A 48-year-old man was arrested on Saturday (September 13) for allegedly setting ablaze a thatched shrine of a local deity at Mogaluturu Mandal headquarters in West Godavari district. The incident took place in the early hours of September 9.
Speaking to the media, West Godavari Additional Superintendent of Police V. Bheema Rao said the accused, identified as Thota Srinivas, had been worshipping the local deity, Mutyalamma, since 1993. Recently, locals erected a shed and constructed a platform to replace the thatched shrine. Srinivas allegedly set the shrine ablaze to oppose this move.
He did so citing violation of the tradition of worshipping the deity in a thatched shrine, said Mr. Bheema Rao. The police have registered a case, and an investigation is on.
