Marian Statue Desecrated in Secunderabad; Christian Community Demands Justice

Secunderabad, March 13, 2026: An act of desecration targeting a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Secunderabad has triggered deep concern and outrage among the Christian community. The incident, which took place in the early hours of Friday at the entrance of St. Mary’s Pharmacy College, has been described by Church leaders and lay organisations as a deliberate attack on a sacred symbol of faith.

The vandalised statue, placed inside a glass enclosure near the gate of the college under the Archdiocese of Hyderabad, was reportedly destroyed around 3:00 a.m. on March 13. According to information shared by the Catholic Association of Hyderabad (CAH), CCTV footage from the premises captured two masked youths arriving at the site on a scooter.

The footage shows the individuals initially attempting to break the glass enclosure protecting the statue using a stone. When the attempt failed, they reportedly returned with a larger stone, shattered the glass casing, removed the statue of Mother Mary, and threw it to the ground before smashing it with another stone.

The perpetrators had reportedly covered the number plate of their two-wheeler, suggesting that the act was carefully planned. The entire incident was captured on the college’s CCTV cameras.

Condemning the incident, the Catholic Association of Hyderabad said the desecration has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community. The association described the vandalism as a disturbing and deliberate act against a sacred religious symbol.

Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and launched an investigation into the matter. Authorities are examining the CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators and trace the scooter used in the incident.

The Catholic Association of Hyderabad has urged the authorities to take immediate and strict action against those responsible and bring them to justice at the earliest. The association also appealed to the government to ensure the safety and protection of minority communities and their institutions, while calling for stronger measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

The statement was issued on behalf of the association by Sandra Valentina, General Secretary; Alexander Philips, President; Sleeva Galleli, Vice President; James Sylvester, Co-ordinator; and Melvin Benedict, National Co-ordinator of All India Catholic Union (Telangana State).

By Catholic Connect Reporter

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