Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy Temple attacked by man in Malappuram, Kerala
Malappuram, Kerala, India 
17 February, 2024
Case Summary
A youth attacked and desecrated the Sree Thirumandhamkunnu Bhagavathy temple in Angadipuram, Malappuram, during a morning puja. He broke into the shrine, smashed a lamp and a pedestal, and desecrated the murti and ornaments. The assailant also threatened the priests. Initially, the temple's security removed him from Bhagwan Shiva’s Mandapam, but he returned and caused the damage. Devotees eventually restrained him with a rope. The police arrived and took him to the Perintalmanna police station. Devotees criticized the temple’s security lapse, and the police promised a thorough investigation. The incident lasted over an hour. There were reports that the man arrested in connection with this case was one 'Rajesh', whom the police claimed was 'mentally unstable'.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
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. In this case, despite understanding that temples are centres of worship and sanctity for Hindus, the perpetrator vandalised the premises, desecrated religious symbols and broke idols of Hindu gods and goddesses. The intent behind the action could only possibly be that of provoking Hindu worshippers and showing disrespect towards the Hindu faith. Such attacks on Hindu places of worship and religious symbols are motivated by deep-seated hostility towards Hinduism and its adherents. Here, even the police downplayed the communal nature of the crime by claiming that the accused was 'mentally unstable'. This claim represents a common trope used to deflect attention from the religious motivations behind hate crimes against Hindu places of worship, portraying the act as stemming from mental illness rather than religious animosity. Authorities often downplay such communal crimes and often attribute the offence to the accused's mental health. This narrative has appeared repeatedly in cases targeting Hindus and their religious symbols, obscuring the true intent of religious hatred. Many times, police minimise incidents of low-level communal crime to protect their jurisdiction from scrutiny. They frequently cite the accused's mental instability as the cause, aiming to prevent any flare-up in the area following the initial offence. However, this explanation rang hollow in this instance. If the accused was truly mentally unstable, why did he target only a Hindu temple for desecration and not a mosque or other non-Hindu places of worship? This selective targeting and desecration of a Hindu temple exposed deep-seated hatred for Hinduism and its sacred spaces, confirming the religiously motivated nature of the offence. Therefore, this case is added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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