Revered Hindu deity Lord Ganesha’s idol vandalised in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh
Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
7 October, 2026
Case Summary
In Swar Khurd village in Milak tehsil, Rampur district, Uttar Pradesh, an idol of Lord Ganesha was vandalised inside a Hindu temple, desecrating a Hindu religious symbol. Temple priest, Tejpal, revealed that the perpetrator damaged the Ganesh idol and threw it away. Following the incident, the temple priest sought action against those responsible. He stated that he had informed the police about the damage to the idol, but the police had not acted on his complaint. Tejpal demanded that those responsible for breaking the idol be identified, apprehended and subjected to strict legal action. He said the damage to the idol had angered devotees and appealed to the police and administration to investigate the matter seriously, identify the perpetrators and take action against them.
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. This case is a clear example of a religiously driven hate crime because a sacred idol of Lord Ganesha was desecrated inside a temple. The deliberate destruction of the religious idol constituted an attack on sacred Hindu religious representations and hurt the religious sentiments of devotees. Lord Ganesha is one of the most widely worshipped deities in Hinduism and is revered as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, as well as the remover of obstacles. He is traditionally worshipped at the beginning of religious ceremonies and auspicious occasions, making his idol a sacred representation of Hindu faith and devotion. The deliberate breaking of the idol constituted the destruction of a sacred Hindu religious representation and an act of desecration against an idol of religious significance. Hindu idols occupied an integral place in worship and devotional practices, serving as sacred representations through which devotees expressed their faith, reverence and spiritual attachment to their deities. The deliberate damage to such an idol violated the sanctity associated with Hindu worship and disrespected the religious traditions observed by Hindu devotees. The act also affected the religious environment of the temple, which served as a place for prayer, worship and the observance of Hindu customs. The destruction of a sacred idol undermined the dignity attached to Hindu religious symbols and infringed upon the sentiments of devotees who regard the temple and its religious installations as integral to their faith. Such desecration also undermined the sense of sanctity and security associated with Hindu places of worship, where devotees expected to practise their religion and honour sacred representations without interference. The incident therefore constituted an affront to Hindu religious traditions and the sanctity of their devotional practices. Accordingly, this case has been documented in the Hinduphobia Tracker's Hate Crime Database as an instance of religiously motivated hostility directed against Hinduism and the religious identity of the Hindu community. Although the perpetrator's religious identity remains unknown, the act targeted the sacred Hindu idols and reflected hostility towards Hinduism and its devotees. Therefore, this case is being added to the Hinduphobia Tracker's Hate Crime Database. 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 incident occurred. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media, 8 October 2026.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
