Hindu sentiments hurt after Muslim man filmed reel wearing slippers in the sacred River Ganga at Har Ki Pauri Ghat
Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India 
14 June, 2026
Case Summary
Hindu religious sentiments were outraged after a Muslim man named Amjad Khan made a video while wearing slippers in the waters of the sacred River Ganga at Har Ki Pauri Ghat in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The video, which was approximately 25 seconds long, showed Amjad Khan, who was a police constable, walking along the steps of the sacred Har Ki Pauri Ghat while wearing slippers and recording a reel for Instagram. The footage was filmed when a police team from Bijnor had travelled to Haridwar in connection with the immersion of a statue that had been installed after an earlier act of vandalism in the Syohara police station area. During the visit, Khan recorded the reel near the sacred river and later uploaded it to social media. The incident drew widespread attention on social media and triggered objections from members of the public who viewed the act as disrespectful towards a river that holds profound religious significance in Hinduism. After the video went viral, local residents and social media users criticised the constable's conduct, stating that entering the holy waters of the Ganga while wearing footwear was contrary to Hindu religious beliefs and had hurt the sentiments of devotees. The incident sparked extensive discussion online, with many people demanding disciplinary action and an impartial inquiry into the matter. Taking cognisance of the controversy, Bijnor Superintendent of Police Abhishek Jha ordered an investigation into the incident. A notice seeking an explanation was issued to the constable, and a departmental inquiry was initiated. Following the preliminary findings, Khan was removed from his posting at Syohara police station and placed under suspension. The investigation was entrusted to Dhampur Circle Officer Anjani Kumar Chaturvedi, who stated that further action would be determined on the basis of the inquiry report. The police administration stated that the disciplinary action had been taken to maintain professional standards and prevent similar incidents from recurring.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within it, the 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. This case has been included in the tracker because a Muslim police constable, Amjad Khan, recorded and published a social media reel while wearing slippers in the sacred waters of the River Ganga at Har Ki Pauri Ghat in Haridwar, one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Hinduism. The act sparked widespread outrage among Hindu devotees and local residents, as the actions of the accused were a violation of the sanctity of the site and an insult to Hindu religious sentiments. Har Ki Pauri occupies a uniquely sacred position in Hindu religious tradition. It is regarded as one of the most revered ghats on the banks of the River Ganga and is believed to bear the footprint of Lord Vishnu. Millions of Hindu devotees visit the site every year to take part in rituals, offer prayers, perform religious ceremonies, and take a holy dip in the Ganga, which is worshipped as Goddess Ganga and revered as a divine mother figure. The ghat is not merely a public riverbank but a living religious space imbued with deep spiritual significance. Acts performed within its precincts are therefore expected to conform to established religious norms and traditions that preserve its sanctity. One of the fundamental customs observed at Har Ki Pauri and other Hindu sacred sites is the removal of footwear before entering the holy premises or coming into direct contact with sacred waters. In Hindu tradition, shoes and slippers are considered impure because they come into contact with dirt and impurities from the outside world. Removing footwear is a sign of humility, reverence, and respect before the divine. Thus, wearing shoes, sandals, or slippers is strictly prohibited at the ghats of Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar and this practice is widely understood and observed by devotees, pilgrims, and visitors alike. Entering the sacred waters while wearing slippers is therefore regarded as a breach of religious decorum and a disregard for the customs that Hindus associate with the sanctity of the Ganga. Against this backdrop, the actions of Amjad Khan amounted to a defilement of the religious customs and sacred norms associated with Har Ki Pauri. The fact that he not only entered the holy waters wearing slippers but also deliberately recorded and shared the act as a social media reel transformed the incident from a private lapse in judgement into a public display that normalised and showcased conduct considered disrespectful by Hindu devotees. Given the widespread awareness surrounding the sanctity of Har Ki Pauri and the religious significance attached to the Ganga, the act was a direct insult to the Hindu religious sensitivities. The public nature of the recording and its subsequent dissemination amplified the insult and caused distress among devotees, as the act was a direct affront to a site that is sacred for Hindus. Such actions were rooted in animosity towards Hindu religious customs and practices. For these reasons, this case has been included in the tracker as an instance where conduct directed at a sacred Hindu religious site and its associated customs resulted in the desecration of a space of immense spiritual importance to Hindus. The act undermined established religious practices, offended the sentiments of devotees, and contributed to the disrespect and denigration of Hindu sacred traditions in a public setting. 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 accused uploaded the reel. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media, 15 June 2026.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
