Vandals Destroy Ancient Pillars In Hampi, Netizens Want The Police To Hunt Them Down

A few weeks ago, the New York Times put Hampi at 2nd place on their list of 52 places to go in 2019. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was recognised for its architectural legacy and the fact that there are almost 1000 well-preserved stone monuments over there.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsc8ebwBluS/?utm_source=ig_embed

However, the word “well-preserved” might have to be removed from NYT’s official statement, because some of our own have gone into the historic spot and absolutely vandalised it.

A video that’s doing the rounds of the internet shows a bunch of guys toppling down the stone pillars at Hampi and then laughing about it.

Local Tourists destroying Stone Pillars in Heritage Site at Hampi, Karnatakahttps://t.co/xkoBTAAMNG pic.twitter.com/mse73jQMRw

— r/India on Reddit (@redditindia) February 1, 2019

At first, it was thought to be fake. But unfortunately, Twitter user @ShunyaFX has confirmed that it’s true.

Yes, that was not a fake video. Finally it is reported on Indian Express Newspaper. Authorities are still denying that this is not recent, even though I published the culprit's identity – this WAS committed in the last few days. Do you want more proof? #SaveAncientIndia #Hampi pic.twitter.com/mwfK5RNvtV

— ᏢᏒᎪᏉᎬᎬᏁ mᎾhᎪᏁ🔥 (@PraveenMohanET) February 2, 2019

And so has the police.

Karnataka: Following a viral video showing miscreants damaging pillars at Hampi UNESCO World Heritage Site, police inspected the site today. pic.twitter.com/iDp2iQLoGR

— ANI (@ANI) February 2, 2019

@CPBlr @AddlCPAdmn @DCPAdmnBCP Have informed to cyber crime Police station to look into this issue

— BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) February 1, 2019

Furious netizens have done some digging to find these miscreants and have asked the authorities to take immediate action against them.

A video showing 3 thugs vandalising #Hampi antiquity has gone viral on social media. One of the alleged vandals, a Hindu, used the video on his various SM accounts for upticks. His name, location, cell number and other details are known. But no action by authorities yet. #India

— Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) February 2, 2019

Two idiots push down a temple pillar in Hampi.

I have been to Hampi twice. That place is just breathtaking. Every ruin, every temple, every structure there is majestic.

How can anyone even thing of doing something like this?https://t.co/rRNLQ4rdfV

— 🐦 𝓑𝓲𝓻𝓭𝓶𝓪𝓷 (@amabirdman) February 2, 2019

#SaturdayThoughts
Local tourists destroy stone pillars at Hampi, Karnataka a UNESCO World Heritage Site ’for a video shoot’. Ranked as world’s 2nd tourism spot, why we show zero respect for our own profound legacy?#SaturdayMotivation#SaturdayMorningpic.twitter.com/bxJz7FOl1c

— Geetika Swami (@SwamiGeetika) February 2, 2019

https://twitter.com/SunilAralikatti/status/1091543843307061249

So the news is real… Some miscreants were destroying our Hindu heritage site HAMPI, this video is true !!! https://t.co/qPpc7IK72t

— No Conversion (@noconversion) February 2, 2019

Sad to see that some people derive pleasure from vandalizing ancient ruins. Been there & Hampi is majestic.

Hopefully the authorities in Karnataka take notice and book the offenders.

Bringing to kind attention of CM & police@CMofKarnataka @BlrCityPolice https://t.co/Gtae6Fnisl

— Rahul Malviya (@rahulmalviya) February 2, 2019

#Hampi A heritage site. A site reflective of our prestige. A site reflective of our glory. A place tens of thousands of tourists visit. A place our Desi boys somehow loved to ruin.

We're perhaps the only civilization that so loves to destroy our finest possessions! Despicable https://t.co/Nd2QbvlgOO

— Srinivas Badekila (@SrinivasBdekila) February 2, 2019

According to the New Indian Express, locals have questioned the lack of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) representatives at the spot. Vishwanath Malagi, convenor of VSSS, has added that this isn’t first time such an act has taken place,

“This is no the first time such incidents are happening in Hampi. In 2016, someone damaged pillars at Achyutha Raya Bazaar. The ASI itself demolished pillars at Virupaksha Bazaar.”

Kalimuthu, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist of ASI’s Hampi Mini Circle, responded initially by saying that the video is fake. But then he went onto say that it’s “old”. He said,

“The incident took place in Hampi, but the video is not a recent one. The video has been posted recently to tarnish the image of the world heritage site as Hampi has recently achieved an unique distinction as the second must see place in the world this year.”

Given how one of the miscreants’ identity has been revealed, we’ve to watch who’s right and who’s wrong. But in case this is a recent incident, the people in the video should be punished appropriately and be made to restore the site to its former glory.