Ongole (Andhra Pradesh), Jan 5 (IANS): Amid raining reports of unverified alleged attacks on temples in Andhra Pradesh, a senior Prakasam district police official warned rumour mongers for spreading falsehoods about a local temple and peddling corrosion as an attack on temple in the district on Tuesday.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP, Admin) B. Ravichandra, warned of stern action against rumours that two idols were dismembered at Singarayakonda Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy arch.

"The arms of Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy and mother Goddess, which were part of the arch broke and fell down due to corrosion," said Ravichandra.

He said the temple was originally built during the reign of Sri Krishnadevaraya, to which an arch was added two decades ago.

The temple's executive officer Sri Bhairagi confirmed that corrosion caused parts of the idols to break off.

According to Bhairagi, the arch is being repaired every year with the help of donors, but last year (in 2020), the arch could not be repaired as Brahmotsavalu was not held due to Coronavirus.

On Tuesday morning, without confirming the information from any official authority or the police department, a local Telugu news channel repeatedly blared the news alleging another attack on the temple over this incident.

"Those who spread untruths without knowing the facts about the incident, those who behave in a way that disturbs public peace and security, those who create clashes between the two communities must be prosecuted, arrested and charged with strict actions," warned the ASP.

The senior state police official appealed to the general public not to believe such falsehoods.