Muslim students desecrate Maa Durga idol during a procession by throwing leftover food at it
Karimganj, Assam, India 
8 October, 2024
Case Summary
On the night of October 9, 2024, in Manasangan village, Karimganj district, Assam, three madrasa students desecrated an idol of Goddess Durga during a procession by the Bagargool Sarbajanin Durga Puja committee. The accused, identified as Abdul Ahad, Sahabul Ahmed, and a minor, threw leftover cooked rice at the idol, sparking communal tension in the village. Local authorities, including Karimganj DC Pradip Kumar Dwivedi and SP Partha Pratim Das, intervened to de-escalate the situation. A new idol was arranged by the district administration. Abdul and Sahabul were arrested and remanded, while the minor was sent to juvenile court.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime because of the various distinct components that demonstrate the perpetrator's bias against the Hindu faith. Based on the case details, twp prime categories have been selected here. The first category under which this case has been placed is- Attack on Hindu religious symbols and under this two sub-categories have been chosen. The first 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 category under which this case has been placed is- Attack not resulting in death. Within this category, the sub-category selected is- Attack on religious procession. The outward celebration and display of religious symbols in an intrinsic part of Hinduism. Religious processions on various festivals are age-old traditions and a way to manifest faith and form a part of the religious practices of Hindus. On several occasions, such religious processions come under attack by non-Hindu mobs, in a manifestation of their animosity towards Hinduism and their practices. The reasons cited for such violent attacks are many and range from crossing a non-Hindu resident-dominated area to playing loud music, crossing from an area where there is a religious structure of another faith etc. The violent attacks are triggered by the outward display of religiosity by Hindus. The attacks are mainly a manifestation of religious supremacist doctrine which believes that idolatry, essentially the Hindu faith, is one that deserves to be annihilated since the very tenets of Hinduism, its practices and traditions are considered a sin in those doctrines. Since these attacks emanate from intrinsic and doctrinal animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism, it is considered a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. In this case, three Madrasa students in Assam's Manasangan village desecrated a Durga idol by throwing leftover rice at it. Throwing leftover food, at an idol during a religious procession is an act that shows disrespect toward the sanctity of Hindu religious symbols. The desecration of the idol of Goddess Durga, a central figure in Hindu devotion, highlights an act aimed at defiling the religious customs and expressions associated with Hindu worship. This act of symbolic defilement serves as an affront to the religious sentiments of the community.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
