KAKINADA: The local police arrested 39-year-old Vanumu Lakshmana Rao of Pagadalapeta on Monday on the charge of removing the trident (Trisul) from a hand of the goddess at Nookalamma Temple in Kondaiahpalem area here.
Circle inspector P. Eswarudu said Lakshmana Rao worked as daily labourer and was separated from his wife for the past few years. He came to Kondaiahpalem for work and consumed liquor in the evening. In a drunken state, he reached up to the idol positioned outside the temple and removed the trident. In the process, a part of the hand of the goddess was also broken.
Eswarudu said the accused was identified from CCTV footage. Police registered a case.
Meanwhile, Prakasam district police arrested five persons from various places for engaging in false propaganda via social media over damage to the idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narasimha Swamy placed on an arch near the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Singarayakonda a few days ago.
The Singarayakonda…