Amaravati, December 31, 2025: Unidentified individuals damaged a centuries-old Shiva Lingam near the Kapileswar Ghat at the Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Temple in Draksharamam, Ambedkar Konaseema district, during the early hours of December 30 on the auspicious Mukkoti Ekadashi.
Devotees discovered the vandalism in the morning near the temple's sacred pond along the Sapta Godavari river banks and alerted priests.
The suspect, identified as Neelam Srinivas from a nearby village, was arrested after CCTV footage captured him arriving by bike, masked, and using a hammer-like tool in what police link to a prior dispute with temple authorities over rituals.
