Sacrilege shocks family: Deity damaged, two questioned

Labasa Sanatan Sabha president Avitesh Deo is calling for laws to protect public and private places of worship after his family’s Hanuman deity was damaged in an alleged act of sacrilege.

Mr Deo, of Naduna in Labasa, said the incident happened this morning.

“At around 6am I went outside the house to offer prayers in our family’s sacred prayer place when I found our Hanuman deity missing,” he said.

“I called my mother to check and we couldn’t find it anywhere at the prayer place which has been placed nicely there for ten years. Since I had to catch the 6:30am bus to work, I had to ask my siblings to conduct a search.”

Mr Deo said the deity was later found between 7am and 7:30am, about 30 to 50 meters from the house, lying damaged on the ground.

He reported the matter to the Labasa Police Station, where officers responded immediately and rounded up two people for questioning.

“I urge people to confront their differences with those who hurt them face to face instead of damaging deities or places of worship,” he said.

“I am sure no religion teaches us to participate in sacrilege because places of worship are meant to be held with great respect.”

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro confirmed a dedicated team has been formed to investigate the case and conduct visits to places of worship.