Hindu sentiments outraged; Goddess Durga subjected to derogatory remarks on social media by Muslim man amid Durga Puja festivities
Darrang, Assam, India 
23 October, 2026
Case Summary
In Kharupetia, Darrang district, Assam, the revered Hindu deity Goddess Durga was subjected to derogatory and obscene remarks by a Muslim man through a social media reel, which contained highly objectionable and insulting language against the Hindu deity. The act hurt Hindu religious sentiments and insulted the faith and beliefs of the Hindu community. The derogatory remarks against Maa Durga during the Durga Puja festivities triggered widespread outrage among Hindus. Police identified the accused as Saifuddin Ahmed, a resident of Fakirpara village in Kharupetia. He uploaded a reel on his Facebook account in which he used indecent and objectionable language against Goddess Durga. The video subsequently went viral in Kharupetia and across Darrang district, triggering widespread public outrage and strong reactions among residents. After the video circulated, members of various Hindu organisations, including Bajrang Dal, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), local Hindu organisations, and Durga Puja committees, jointly lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against Saifuddin Ahmed at Kharupetia Police Station. In their complaint, they stated that he had deliberately insulted the Hindu deity, hurt religious sentiments and attempted to disturb communal harmony and create social unrest in the area. Acting on the complaint, Kharupetia Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act (IT Act) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for hurting religious sentiments. Police subsequently launched an operation and apprehended Saifuddin Ahmed from his residence in Fakirpara village, Kharupetia. Following his arrest, Saifuddin Ahmed was produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody. The incident drew widespread attention across Kharupetia and other parts of Darrang district, particularly amid the Durga Puja festivities and the public outrage that followed the video's circulation.
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. This case is a clear example of a hate crime because the Muslim perpetrator posted derogatory remarks against Goddess Durga on social media during the Durga Puja festivities, offending the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Durga Puja, also known as Navratri, is one of the most significant Hindu festivals, celebrated over nine nights to honour the divine feminine, particularly Goddess Durga. The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil and holds immense spiritual significance for millions of Hindu devotees. Durga Puja, observed with particular devotion during this period, commemorates Goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolising the destruction of evil and the restoration of righteousness. Goddess Durga is revered in Hinduism as a manifestation of Shakti, the divine feminine power, and as the protector of the universe and destroyer of evil. She embodies strength, courage and righteousness, and her worship forms an integral part of Hindu religious life. Her image is a sacred representation of divine power and protection, holding profound devotional significance for millions of Hindus. Derogatory remarks against the Goddess therefore insult a deeply revered religious figure central to Hindu faith and practice. By targeting Goddess Durga, the perpetrator directed derogatory remarks at a sacred figure central to the Hindu community’s faith and identity. Such conduct went beyond criticism of religious ideas and demonstrated contempt for a revered deity and Hindu devotional traditions. The remarks were therefore rooted in religious hostility towards Hinduism and its adherents, making the incident an instance of hate speech directed at the Hindu community. The timing of the remarks further aggravated the offence. They were made during the Durga Puja festivities, a major Hindu festival when devotees gather to worship Goddess Durga and participate in religious celebrations. Targeting the Goddess during this sacred period turned a time of devotion and collective celebration into one of distress and religious hurt. Directing such insults at the Hindu community during one of its most significant observances reinforced the hostile nature of the act, making it a religiously driven hate crime. Publishing the remarks on social media also allowed them to reach an audience beyond the immediate locality. By using a public digital platform to disseminate derogatory content about Goddess Durga, the perpetrator exposed a wider audience to the offensive material and increased its potential to hurt religious sentiments and aggravate communal tensions. The public nature of the remarks amplified their impact and contributed to the incident's religiously hostile character. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incident dates based on when the crime occurred, rather than when it was reported by the media. However, because media reports did not specify the exact date of the incident in this case, 24 October 2026, the date it was reported by the media, has been selected as the indicative incident date for documentation purposes only.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
