A small village, Anwa in Jalna district, has turned into the epicentre of communal tension after a 12th-century Mahadev temple was allegedly desecrated on Sep. 19. A person had reportedly thrown pieces of meat inside the temple, triggering outrage.Following the incident, right-wing activists staged protests and called for a bandh in the village. During these protests, inflammatory speeches were made targeting the Muslim community, with abusive language and slogans being raised.
Police investigations, however, led to the arrest of 38-year-old Nandkishor Suresh Wadgaonkar, a resident of the same village. CCTV footage from cameras installed at the temple confirmed his involvement. According to Paradh police station officer Santosh Mane, Wadgaonkar, who lives near the temple, was allegedly upset after authorities denied him permission to construct a house near the temple premises. This, along with other grievances, is suspected to have driven him to commit the act.
Despite the arrest, right-wing groups rejected the police’s findings, accusing the authorities of shielding the “real culprits” and vowing to hold a Jan AkroshMorcha. They questioned why a Hindu man was held responsible and escalated communal rhetoric. One of the speakers, Gayatri Devi, delivered a hate speech against Muslims during the agitation.The tension forced many Muslim families to flee the village out of fear.
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