Hindu faith targeted: Muslim man makes derogatory remarks against Hindu deities on social media
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
25 March, 2026
Case Summary
In the Kakwan police station area of Kanpur city, Uttar Pradesh, the Hindu faith was targeted by a Muslim man who made derogatory remarks against Hindu deities on social media. According to media reports, the perpetrator was identified as Mohammad Sharif (40). The accused circulated a video containing derogatory and obscene material about Hindu deities. He was arrested and jailed on 26 March 2026. Police stated that the video was highly objectionable and posed a serious threat of disturbing public peace and sparking communal tension in the area. This action was taken to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident or riot-like situation. Under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Commissionerate, Kanpur Nagar, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Commissionerate, Kanpur Nagar, and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Bilhaur Commissionerate, Kanpur Nagar, the team of Station House Officer Jitendra Singh Rajput carried out this action. The accused Mohammad Sharif, son of Mohammad Shadiq, resident of Kakwan town, Kakwan police station, Kanpur Nagar, was arrested under sections 170/126/135 of the Indian Penal Code. The arresting team included Sub-Inspector Yadavendra Yadav and Sub-Inspector Jitendra Bhati.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case is being added to the tracker under the primary category: Hate Speech against Hindus. The subcategory selected is: Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. This case constituted a clear example of anti-Hindu hate speech, as the Muslim perpetrator made derogatory remarks against Hindu gods and goddesses in a video that he posted on social media. Hindu deities hold unparalleled importance for Hindus, serving as divine religious figures, guides, and protectors whom generations have revered from childhood through daily prayers, festivals, pujas, and life crises, embedding their images deep in every devotee's heart and identity. Growing up worshipping these deities through aarti, bhajans, and temple visits forges unbreakable spiritual bonds, making any insult towards them feel like a personal assault on one's soul. Making derogatory remarks against Hindu deities thus amounted to a direct affront to the Hindu faith, grievously hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community and rendering it a clear case of religiously motivated hate crime. Such derogatory comments against the Hindu faith and its deities are rooted in animosity towards the entire Hindu faith and its adherents, making it a religiously motivated hate crime. Posting this derogatory content on social media amplified the malice, as the perpetrator deliberately broadcasted inflammatory content to reach millions, inciting outrage and aiming to humiliate Hindus en masse. Social media served as his chosen weapon to wound Hindu sentiments on a massive scale, sparking viral fury and communal tension far beyond local confines. This calculated public dissemination made it a clear case of a religiously motivated hate crime, designed for maximum provocation and psychological harm. This case met multiple parameters of a religiously motivated hate crime through targeted insults to Hindu deities, public dissemination for widespread impact, and intent to inflame tensions. Therefore, it has been added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incident dates based on when the crime occurred rather than when it was reported by the media. In this case, the media reports did not specify the exact date when the crime occurred. Henceforth, the perpetrator's arrest date of 26 March 2026 has been selected as the indicative incident date. This is recorded for documentation purposes only.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
