Temple demolition triggers protest in Sangareddy’s Kandi

The demolition of a Pochamma temple at Lakshmi Nagar Colony in Kandi mandal headquarters triggered protests by locals on Wednesday after a transgender community, which had purchased the land from the family of the temple caretaker, razed the structure to construct a house.

According to locals, Narsimhulu had been looking after the temple for several years before he died recently due to age-related illness.

Members of the transgender community residing in the area had a close association with Narsimhulu and his family and had been extending financial assistance to them.

Following his death, the community purchased the 100-yard plot on which the temple stood from his family for Rs 5 lakh. They subsequently decided to demolish the structure and construct a house on the site.

The demolition on Wednesday angered local residents, who objected to the removal of the temple and confronted members of the community.

As the argument escalated and tensions threatened to turn violent, police intervened and took the people involved into custody to prevent the situation from worsening.

The protesters later relented after the transgender community assured them that a new temple would be constructed at the same site.

During the developments, a couple of ancient idols were also found on the temple premises, including an idol of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.

The discovery of the idols further added to the concerns raised by locals over the demolition.