Hyderabad: Telangana Endowments Minister Konda Surekha on Tuesday condemned the attack on the woman Executive Officer (EO) of the Bhadrachalam temple during an anti-encroachment drive. The incident occurred amid efforts to reclaim temple land reportedly occupied by illegal structures.
Surekha said the long-running dispute over temple land stemmed from the central government’s decision to merge six Telangana mandals into Andhra Pradesh, which she blamed for triggering jurisdictional confusion and encroachment.
She revealed that 60 illegal constructions have already come up on temple property, despite repeated warnings. “Authorities have been urging the occupants to vacate for several days. However, every attempt at enforcement has been met with resistance,” she said. The latest eviction attempt turned violent when squatters allegedly attacked temple officials, including the EO.
The minister noted that since the disputed area lies within Andhra Pradesh’s administrative boundaries, Telangana lacks jurisdiction to file legal cases. She said Andhra Pradesh police should register the FIR, but cooperation from that state’s administration has been lacking.
A formal letter has been sent to the Andhra Pradesh government requesting action. Surekha also said she has urged Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka to take up the issue in discussions with Andhra authorities to ensure justice and protection for temple staff.