Two Muslims caught spitting on rotis in Hindu religious Uttarayani Fair in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand

Case Summary
Two Muslims were arrested for attempting to spoil the atmosphere at the Uttarayan fair held on the banks of the Saryu River in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand. The accused, two young Muslim men from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, were caught making rotis by spitting on them at their shop set up at the fair. A video of the incident went viral, leading to agitation among Hindu organizations, who raised slogans of Jai Shri Ram at the fairground. The police quickly took action to prevent potential violence. They first verified the video and confirmed its authenticity. Following this, both youths were arrested. The Superintendent of Police, Chandrashekhar Ghodke, confirmed that the incident took place during the Bageshwar Uttarayani and was investigated immediately after the video circulated online.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the first sub-category selected 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. The second sub-category selected is- Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. Here, two Muslim individuals were caught spitting on rotis (traditional Indian bread) meant for Hindu devotees. The Uttarayani Fair is a religious event of significant importance to Hindus, and such an act constitutes a deliberate violation of the sanctity of the occasion. Spitting on food intended for a religious gathering shows blatant disrespect for Hindu customs. The act of spitting on food or religious items, such as prasad or a Hindu idol, is indeed deeply troubling, especially when viewed in the context of its symbolic meaning in Islam. It is pertinent to note that spitting in Islam denotes warding off the devil. When a Muslim individual spits on Hindu religious offerings or idols, it sends a clear message of disrespect toward Hinduism, effectively equating Hindu deities with evil or the devil. This act of disrespect is not merely a personal grievance or a random act; it carries with it the weight of religious hostility. By targeting Hindu religious symbols and practices, the perpetrators are demonstrating animosity and contempt for Hinduism itself, making it a deliberate and calculated act of religious hate. Such acts are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of hostility that can be rooted in deeply ingrained prejudices. Given the intent to demean and insult Hindu religious beliefs, this act qualifies as a religiously motivated hate crime.

Case Status
Arrested

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male