Idol of Goddess Kali targeted for desecration during Durga Puja immersion procession in Munger, Bihar
Munger, Bihar, India 
22 October, 2026
Case Summary
In Jamalpur, Munger district, Bihar, an idol of Goddess Kali was targeted for desecration during a Durga Puja immersion procession by a group of miscreants. The perpetrators attempted to vandalise the sacred idol following a minor dispute with Hindu devotees over dancing. According to media reports, a complaint regarding this incident was filed by Amit Kumar, a resident of Walipur in Ward No. 24 of the Jamalpur Municipal Council. The incident took place at around 1:30 am on 23 October 2026, near the Sadar Bazaar Police Outpost in Jamalpur. Hindu devotees were proceeding to immerse the idol of Goddess Kali when the perpetrators objected to the dancing during the procession, triggering a dispute. The disagreement escalated into a violent assault when the perpetrators, armed with sticks, batons and swords, verbally abused and attacked Amit Kumar and his companions. Amit Kumar sustained a head injury, while two other devotees, Shubham Kumar and Anshu Kumar, were injured in sword attacks. Amid the violence, the perpetrators also attempted to damage the sacred idol of Goddess Kali. The six accused named in the complaint were Vikram Kumar, Rohit Kumar, Sagar Kumar, Ankit Kumar, Badal Kumar and Manish Kumar. Following Amit Kumar’s complaint, Adarsh Jamalpur Police Station registered a case and arrested Roshan Kumar, alias Badal, a resident of Walipur. Station House Officer Pankaj Kumar Paswan confirmed the arrest and stated that efforts to apprehend the remaining five accused were ongoing at the time of writing this report.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case is being added to the tracker under the primary category: 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 an anti-Hindu hate crime because an idol of Goddess Kali was targeted for desecration during a Durga Puja idol immersion procession. The perpetrators attempted to vandalise the sacred idol following a dispute over dancing, escalating the confrontation beyond a disagreement and bringing a revered Hindu religious symbol into the incident. Durga Puja is one of the most significant Hindu festivals, celebrating Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura and symbolising the triumph of good over evil. The festival culminates in the ceremonial immersion of the Goddess’s idol, during which devotees carry it in a procession, bidding farewell to the Goddess while expressing their devotion and seeking her blessings. Goddess Kali, a powerful manifestation of the Divine Mother, is revered as the embodiment of divine power, protection and the destruction of evil. Her worship during the Durga Puja period holds profound spiritual significance for devotees. Hindu idols are not merely decorative objects; they are sacred representations of the deities and serve as focal points for worship, prayer and devotion. An attempt to desecrate an idol of Goddess Kali during such a religious observance therefore targets an object of profound religious and cultural significance to the Hindu community. By attempting to damage the idol during a sacred Hindu procession, the perpetrators demonstrated disregard for the religious sentiments of the devotees, the sanctity of their faith and the significance of the occasion. The attempted desecration demonstrates the perpetrators' hostility towards Hindu religious practices and symbols. It is this targeting of a sacred Hindu idol that forms the central basis for examining the incident as an anti-Hindu hate crime. If the perpetrators had a genuine grievance concerning dancing during the procession, they could have addressed it directly with the devotees involved or sought police intervention. Instead, the confrontation escalated into violence against Hindu devotees and an attempt to damage the idol of Goddess Kali. A disagreement and a fight over dancing would not, in itself, necessarily constitute a religious hate crime. However, the attempt to desecrate a sacred Hindu idol during a religious procession adds a distinct religious dimension to the incident. It cannot simply be dismissed as an ordinary altercation arising from crowded festival conditions, as the perpetrators also targeted a revered Hindu religious symbol. Such targeting of sacred Hindu representations demonstrates hatred for the Hindu faith and its symbols, making it a religiously motivated crime. Overall, since this case meets the parameters of a religiously driven offence, it is being added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 5 to 10
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
