Shiv Temple vandalised and idol desecrated
Riasi, Jammu and Kashmir, India 
30 June, 2024
Case Summary
In the Dharmadi area of Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, a temple was vandalised, causing significant resentment among local residents. The police detained 24 suspects and formed a special investigation team led by DSP Operations to handle the case. Various police teams were mobilised, and nine additional suspects were detained for questioning. The vandalism of idols in the Shiva temple sparked considerable anger, leading to protests and demonstrations in Reasi and surrounding areas. A protest rally was held, and tyres were burned at multiple locations, including outside the Tehsildar office. The Sanatan Dharma Sabha called for a shutdown of all shops and businesses in Reasi and nearby areas. A meeting of the Sanatan Dharma Sabha, attended by members of various Hindu organisations and local shopkeepers, condemned the vandalism and decided on the closure as a form of protest.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
According to the case details, 'attack on Temples' and 'desecration of Hindu religious symbol' are the two sub-categories under the core category 'attack on Hindu religious symbols' under which this case has been listed. The first relevant sub-category in this case 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 second sub-category under which this case has been placed is 'desecration of Hindu religious symbol' Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. In this case, the perpetrators vandalised the temple and desecrated the idols placed in the temple. Such attacks on the premises of a temple that aim to cause harm to the temple or its devotees demonstrate the inherent Hindumisia that radical Muslims harbour inside them. For this reason, this case qualifies for inclusion in the hate tracker database. It is important to mention here that though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed out of hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the desecration of the sacred temple and idols and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
N/A
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
