A man was arrested for vandalising Hanuman temple on June 4 | Photo Credit: ANI

Muzaffarnagar: A man from a minority community was arrested for vandalising Hanuman temple on June 4 in UP’s Muzaffarnagar. According to Ashish Pratap, Circle Officer, Khatoli, the incident happened on the morning of July 4 and the man in question punched those present inside the temple and also made objectionable comments after which he was apprehended by the locals and was handed over to the cops. The man has been identified as Musa from Bulandshahr.

As per the police reports the man also tried to hurt religious sentiments by destroying the idol and chanting Allahu akbar.

“He has been arrested and sent to jail on serious charges. Such actions will not be tolerated. An investigation is underway,” the Circle Officer told ANI.

As the man was from the minority community tensions flared up in the locality. Once the news of the incident was reported, right-wing Hindu outfits reached the temple and gheraoed the police station. The officers present there then pacified the members saying that strict action will be taken against the accused.

This comes after a minor scuffle in the national capital over parking of a 'scooty' took a communal turn and turned violent. Later, several members from the minority community attacked and vandalised the 100-year-old Durga Mata Mandir in Lal Kuan in Central Delhi's Hauz Qazi area.

The men also raised slogans like Nara-e-Takbeer Allahu akbar.

The situation in the area remained tense and heavy police was deployed in the area to thwart any untoward incident.

Mobile footage of the incident went viral on the internet in which members from the Muslim community can be seen pelting stones at the temple and shouting slogans. To control the situation, Delhi Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed.

According to a senior police official, three separate cases have been registered.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court today turned down a plea seeking a court-monitored probe in the vandalization of a Hindu temple.

The plea was filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava and the court observed that it was premature. There is no reason to constitute an SIT, the bench observed saying that the Delhi Police requires some “breathing time”.

Meanwhile, the BJP accused Delhi state Assembly Cabinet Minister Imran Hussain (AAP party) of being involved in the temple attack – a claim which the minister rejected calling it "baseless and false".

The accusation was made by former Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel, Delhi BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari and Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa.