Police have arrested a man within hours of a temple being vandalized and set on fire on the outskirts of Jammu. The accused, Arjun Sharma, confessed to the crime.
The incident occurred on Saturday night at a temple in the Narayan Kho area, where idols were damaged, and vessels were burned.
Following a complaint, the Nagrota Police registered an FIR and swiftly launched an investigation. A team of experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the Crime Branch, assisted by sniffing dogs, were brought in to assist with the investigation. CCTV footage led to the arrest of four suspects, with Sharma identified as the main perpetrator.
Superintendent of Police Brijesh Sharma praised the timely arrest, which he said prevented tensions from escalating in the area. “We are grateful to the community for their cooperation and maintaining peace,” he added. The police did not disclose the sect of the accused or the community affected by the incident.
Arjun Sharma claimed he was driven to act because local authorities ignored his complaints about black magic practices allegedly taking place in the temple.
This incident follows a similar one on June 29 in the Dharma area of Rasi, where tensions flared after a Shiv temple was demolished. In that case, both Hindus and Muslims united to protest the vandalism, demanding stringent action. Jammu and Kashmir police subsequently arrested 43 people in connection with that incident.
The recent arrest highlights ongoing tensions and the need for authorities to address community concerns promptly to prevent such acts of vandalism and arson in the future.
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