PUNE, MAHARASHTRA – In a horrifying and deeply offensive act that has sparked anger across the nation, a 19-year-old man, identified as Chand Naushad Sheikh, was caught on CCTV urinating inside the sacred Nageshwar Temple in Paud village and desecrating the idol of Goddess Annapurna. The incident, described by many as a deliberate act of blasphemy, has ignited public outrage and demands for harsh punishment.
According to footage recovered from the temple’s surveillance system, the accused threw the idol to the ground, urinated on it, and committed obscene acts within the temple premises. The act is being widely condemned on social media, with many calling it a premeditated hate crime aimed at insulting Hindu beliefs and provoking communal unrest.
करारा जवाब मिलेगा! pic.twitter.com/9tq01QZ7JI
— Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) May 3, 2025Police authorities acted swiftly. Chand Sheikh and his father, Naushad Sheikh, have been taken into custody. An FIR has been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 196, 298, 299, 302, 351(2), and 3(5)—sections related to intentional insult to religion, provocation with intent to cause riot, and other serious charges.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Pujari, from Pune Rural Police, confirmed the arrest and stated that the situation in the village is under control, though security has been tightened in and around the area.
This incident is being viewed not as an isolated case of vandalism, but as an open challenge to Hindu faith. Temples are not just places of worship; they are the soul of Sanatan Dharma. For a person to enter such a sacred space and defile it with such vulgar and hateful actions is beyond forgivable.
The silence of national media and so-called secular voices has also come under scrutiny. Many are questioning the double standards in reporting and outrage when it comes to religious intolerance towards Hindus.
