The man was in Hyderabad to attend a personality development workshop.
Hyderabad:
A 30-year-old graduate engineer who allegedly desecrated an idol in a temple here on October 14 had self-radicalized by watching videos of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and others on social media and had earlier been involved in similar incidents in Mumbai, Hyderabad Police said on Wednesday.
Salman Salim Thakur, also known as Salman, entered the sanctum of the Muthialama temple in Secunderabad early on Monday and desecrated the main idol of the temple, sparking protests from local people, Hindu outfits and the BJP.
Angered by the “provocative and mischievous” act, locals beat up the accused.
The police arrested the accused and admitted him to a hospital.
The accused is undergoing treatment for internal injuries and his condition remains critical, the police said, adding that an FIR has been registered against him under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Investigation revealed that Salman, who hails from Mumbai, had started watching videos of Islamic preachers like Zakir Naik on social media, the Hyderabad police said in a release.
“He is active on social media. We got information (about him watching videos of Naik and other Islamic preachers) after analyzing his mobile phone and social media (activities),” said a police official.
He “self-radicalized and developed radical thinking and hatred” for practices of other religions such as idolatry, the statement said.
The Maharashtra police had earlier arrested him for his alleged involvement in damaging idols in Mumbai.
Earlier this month, Salman had come to Hyderabad to attend a month-long personality development workshop, police said.
It has been established that the premises of a hotel were rented illegally for conducting the training course, for which there is no official permission, and in this connection the necessary legal actions are being taken against the management, they added.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published by a syndicated channel.)
