Hindu sentiments insulted as man makes derogatory remarks, creates objectionable photos and videos targeting Hindu deities on social media
Basti, Uttar Pradesh, India 
2 April, 2026
Case Summary
In the Piprahia village of Basti district, Uttar Pradesh, Hindu sentiments were insulted after a man named Ajit Kumar made derogatory remarks and created objectionable photos and videos targeting Hindu gods and goddesses on social media. The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Sonha Police Station, where Station House Officer Mahesh Singh confirmed that the accused, Ajit Kumar, had made objectionable photos and videos against Hindu gods and goddesses and made them viral on social media. It was also revealed that he had made derogatory comments targeting Hindu deities. The material quickly spread online and provoked strong reactions from the public, leading to heightened tensions in the area. Acting on the situation, the police intervened promptly, arrested the accused, and ensured that the objectionable content was removed from his mobile device. A case was registered against him for disturbing public peace.
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. The second primary category selected here is - Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within it, the sub-category selected here is - Iconoclastic representation of Hindu Gods/Goddesses. An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. 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. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. This case constituted a clear instance of anti-Hindu hate speech, as the accused, Ajit Kumar, created and circulated objectionable photos and videos targeting Hindu gods and goddesses on social media, demonstrating religious contempt for core elements of the Hindu faith. Hindu deities occupy a central and sacred position within Hinduism, embodying deeply held spiritual, cultural, and theological values that guide the lives of devotees through worship, rituals, and festivals. Thus, any derogatory depiction or commentary directed at these revered figures therefore transcended mere offence and amounted to a direct attack on the religious identity and emotional fabric of the Hindu community, causing widespread hurt and outrage. A significant aggravating factor in this case was the deliberate creation and dissemination of such content in visual form. Objectionable photos and videos that distort or mock sacred representations of deities constitute a form of iconoclastic denigration, wherein religious symbols are intentionally defiled to provoke and insult. Such actions are not isolated expressions but reflect a conscious effort to demean and undermine the sanctity of Hindu religious imagery. By targeting divine figures that are integral to daily worship and belief systems, the accused engaged in conduct that was inherently hostile towards Hinduism and its adherents. The use of social media as the medium of dissemination further amplified the severity and impact of the offence. By making the content viral, the accused ensured that the derogatory material reached a wide audience, thereby magnifying its potential to inflame sentiments and create communal tension. Social media platforms, in this context, functioned as force multipliers, enabling the rapid spread of offensive content and exposing a large number of individuals to material designed to insult their faith. This deliberate public broadcasting indicated an intention to provoke, humiliate, and cause psychological distress to Hindus on a broader scale. In recent times, social media has increasingly become a platform for anti-Hindu hate, with derogatory memes, videos, and messages targeting Hindu religious symbols, practices, and deities. Such content is recognised as part of a broader pattern of Hinduphobia and religious hate crimes online. Taken together, the creation of objectionable content targeting Hindu deities, its deliberate circulation on social media for mass impact, and the resulting public outrage established this case as a religiously motivated hate crime. The act was directed at the sacred symbols and identity of the Hindu religious community, with the intention of wounding sentiments and disturbing communal harmony. Accordingly, this case met the parameters of a hate crime and thus has been added to the Hate Crime database of the tracker. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incidents based on when an event occurred or when the victim's ordeal began. It is important to clarify that the report does not specify the exact date when the accused posted the offensive content. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the case was reported in the media, 2 April 2026.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
