Hindu religious sentiments outraged as idol of Hindu deity vandalised by miscreants in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India 
7 June, 2026
Case Summary
A Hanuman idol installed at a Hanuman temple in the Baniya Kheda village, under the Gonda police station area of Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh, was vandalised and desecrated by unidentified miscreants. According to reports, the incident came to light when local residents discovered that the face of the Bajrangbali idol had been broken inside the temple premises. The desecration of the sacred idol caused concern among villagers and members of Hindu organisations, following which representatives of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal reached the site and informed the police administration. Police personnel from the Gonda police station arrived at the temple and inspected the damaged idol. During the preliminary inquiry, officials stated that anti-social elements had vandalised the statue. The destruction of a revered Hindu deity's idol constituted an act that directly offended Hindu religious sentiments, as Hanuman is one of the most widely worshipped and revered deities in Hinduism. Following the incident, police assured residents that a replacement idol would be installed and that the necessary religious rituals and worship ceremonies would be conducted. Authorities stated that the situation remained peaceful and under control, while efforts were initiated to address the consequences of the desecration and restore the temple for devotees.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is: Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory 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 other subcategory selected 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. This case constitutes a religiously motivated hate crime because unidentified miscreants deliberately vandalised a sacred idol of Lord Hanuman installed within a Hanuman temple in Baniya Kheda village. The act was not a case of accidental destruction or ordinary property damage but involved the desecration of an object that holds profound religious significance for Hindu devotees. By directing the attack against a consecrated idol inside a temple, the perpetrators targeted a central symbol of Hindu faith and religious identity. In Hinduism, temples are among the most sacred institutions of religious life and serve as centres of worship, devotion, spiritual practice, and community gathering. They are regarded as holy spaces where devotees establish a connection with the divine through prayer, rituals, and offerings. The sanctity of a temple is intrinsically linked to the deities enshrined within it. Consequently, any act of vandalism or desecration committed within a Hindu temple extends beyond mere damage to property and constitutes an attack upon a sacred religious space revered by devotees. The deliberate targeting of a temple idol, therefore, represents an act that directly violates the sanctity of a place of worship and demonstrates disregard for the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. The deity targeted in this incident was Lord Hanuman, one of the most revered and widely worshipped figures in Hinduism. Lord Hanuman is venerated as the embodiment of devotion, courage, strength, loyalty, and protection. He occupies a central place in Hindu religious tradition and is worshipped by millions of devotees across India and the world. For devotees, a consecrated Hanuman idol is not merely a statue but a sacred representation of the deity's divine presence. Therefore, the deliberate damage inflicted upon the idol carried deep religious significance and constituted an attack upon an object held sacred by the Hindu community. The nature of the incident further demonstrates its targeted character. The perpetrators did not engage in indiscriminate destruction of surrounding property but damaged the idol itself, specifically breaking its face. Such conduct reflects a deliberate act of desecration directed at a sacred religious representation. The mutilation of a deity's face is particularly offensive to devotees because it symbolically dishonours and defiles an object of worship. By targeting the idol in this manner, the perpetrators demonstrated contempt for a revered Hindu deity and for the religious beliefs associated with the temple. Accordingly, since this incident involved the deliberate desecration of a consecrated idol of Lord Hanuman within a Hindu place of worship, resulting in the violation of a sacred religious symbol and injury to Hindu religious sentiments, it falls within the parameters of a religiously motivated hate crime and is being included in the Hinduphobia 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 none of the media sources covering this case has specified the exact date when the temple was targeted. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media, 8 June 2026.
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Perpetrators Details
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