Mob indulges in Abrahamic chanting in front of Hindu temple, hurl bombs at Hindu houses during Eid Milad-un-Nabi
Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh, India 
15 September, 2024
Case Summary
During a procession for Eid Milad-un-Nabi in Sheopur, tensions escalated when Muslim youths waved foreign flags and raised provocative slogans while passing by the Sitaram Ji temple in Bhoi Mohalla. The procession was heading towards Peer Mazar when bombs were thrown into Hindu homes, leading to unrest. In response, Hindu organizations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, protested at the local police station, demanding swift action against the perpetrators. The atmosphere in the city became tense after these events. The police registered cases against four named individuals, including Malik and Kannu, while unknown suspects were being identified. Four police officers on duty during the incident were suspended for failing to prevent the disturbances. The tensions intensified when slogans were raised in front of the temple, prompting Hindu groups to threaten a market shutdown if action wasn't taken. Based on complaints from Rashid and Vikram Chauhan, cases were filed against individuals such as Lalu, Nazim, and others.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime and added under two prime categories of the hate tracker. The first is- Attack not resulting in death. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attacked for Hindu identity- In several cases, Hindus are attacked merely for their Hindu identity without any perceived provocation. A classic example of this category of religiously motivated hate crime is a murder in 2016. 7 ISIS terrorists were convicted for shooting a school principal in Kanpur because they got ‘triggered’ seeing the Kalava on his wrist and tilak that he had put. In this, the Hindu victim had offered no provocation except for his Hindu religious identity. The motivation for the murder was purely religious, driven by religious supremacy. Such cases where Hindus are targeted merely for their religious identity would be documented as a hate crime under this category. The second category selected here is- Attack on Hindu religious symbols and within this, the sub-category selected is- Attack on Temples- In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The third sub-category this case has been added to is Abrahamic religious chanting outside Hindu religious places and/or during Hindu religious activity'. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Similarly, religious activities hold deep significance for Hindus, as they are intricately connected to their spiritual, cultural, and social lives. These practices encompass rituals, festivals, prayers, and pilgrimages that celebrate and honour various deities, fostering a sense of spiritual connection, community, and cultural continuity. Given the central significance of Temples and religious activities in Hindu Dharma, any aggressive Abrahamic chanting outside Temples or during religious activities negates the divinity of the religious space because the chanting itself negates the existence of any other God other than the God of the Abrahamic faith. Such chanting is specifically done to negate the faith of Hindus, establish religious supremacy, intimidate the devotees and mock the faith. Besides temples, such Abrahamic chanting outside any Hindu place of worship or religious structure or during any religious activity has the same effect. Since such acts are rooted in an inherent religious supremacist mentality driven by religious animosity, such crimes would be considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The attack on Hindus during the Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession, where provocative slogans were raised in front of a Hindu temple and bombs were hurled at Hindu houses, was clearly an unprovoked assault. The Hindu community, simply going about their daily lives, became the target of aggression without any preceding conflict or provocation. This deliberate and calculated attack reflects deep-seated animosity toward Hindus and their faith. By directing violence towards a Hindu temple—a symbol of religious and cultural identity—the perpetrators sought to undermine the religious practices and sense of safety within the Hindu community. The throwing of bombs at Hindu homes further escalates this hostility. This act reflects deep-seated animosity and hostility towards Hindus, with the attack stemming from intolerance and a desire to assert dominance by instilling fear and insecurity. The targeting of religious symbols, places of worship, and homes makes it clear that the violence was intended to marginalise and oppress Hindus because of their faith, making it a blatant act of religious hatred.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
male
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