Karnataka Police pull down Hanuman flag hoisted with permission from authorities after complaint by some people, protesting villagers lathi-charged
Mandya, Karnataka, India 
26 January, 2024
Case Summary
Tensions erupted in Karnataka's Mandya district on January 27th over the removal of a Hanuman flag by police. The flag hoisted on a 108-foot pole near a Ram temple in Keragodu village, was erected by locals with permission from the village Panchayat and funded by contributions from residents and BJP and JD(S) workers. Some villagers objected and complained, leading local officials to order its removal. When panchayat officials arrived to take down the flag, villagers protested, chanting "go back" slogans. Despite the villagers' insistence that the flag was raised collaboratively, authorities removed it, sparking further protests. The police used lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Mandya Superintendent of Police stated that Gram Panchayat CEO Sheikh Tanveer Asif decided to remove the flag because permission was granted to fly the national flag, not a saffron flag.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
In several cases, it is seen that the administration/state disallows a religious practice owing to prejudicial orders and concerns, targeted specifically against the Hindu community. Such restriction/prohibition would be considered documented as a hate crime because the orders are often a result of pressure by groups that harbour animosity towards Hinduism and Hindus. Often, the restriction by the authorities is driven by bias, hostility, or prejudice against the specific community being stopped from holding a religious practice, by pressure groups that harbour animosity towards Hindus, intrinsic to their faith. Since practices are intrinsic to the faith of the Hindus, such prejudicial restriction is considered a curtailing of the fundamental rights of the Hindu community. In several cases, for example, the authorities ban a Hindu religious practice due to pressure from groups opposed to the religion. In other instances, the prohibition is selectively enforced against one religious group (Hindus) while others are allowed to proceed. There are still other cases where the authorities preemptively restrict a religious practice by Hindus because those who hold animosity towards Hindus may get “provoked” leading to them being violent, thereby assuaging the sentiments of those who hold animosity towards Hindus by curtailing the religious rights of Hindus. Such acts and orders are prejudiced, indicating discriminatory motives owing to the capitulation to groups that harbour animosity towards Hindus and therefore, would be categorized as a religiously motivated hate crime since the original pressure leading to the order itself is a result of hatred/bias/prejudice/religious hate against Hindus. Here, the state police of Karnataka forcefully pulled down a Lord Hanuman flag hoisted by the Hindus of a village in Mandya district after due permission from the village Panchayat. The saffron flag, known as the “Bhagwa Dhwaj” or “Kesari Flag,” holds profound significance in Hinduism. It symbolises various spiritual and cultural aspects of the Sanatan Dharma. Saffron, representing purity and spirituality, is associated with the sacred fire, a central element of Hindu rituals. The flag often bears symbols like the Om, signifying the ultimate reality, and the Trishul, the divine weapon of Lord Shiva. In this case, it bore the picture of Lord Hanuman, one of the most revered gods in Hinduism. It is seen during religious processions, ceremonies, and atop temples, signifying the presence of the divine. The saffron flag unifies devotees, fostering a sense of belonging and reverence, making it an essential emblem of Hindu faith and identity. Banning the display of such flags infringes on the religious rights of the Hindu community and stems out of animosity and prejudice towards the Hindu community, for their religious beliefs. Since the act was prejudicial to the rights of Hindus and stems from hatred against Hinduism, this case is being categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
N/A
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
