Temples in Bihar burgled; 200-year-old idols stolen and donation box looted
Saran, Bihar, India 
6 November, 2026
Case Summary
In Saran district, Bihar, thieves targeted two Hindu temples on the night of Dhanteras. Nearly 200-year-old Ashtadhatu idols of Lord Ram, Mata Janaki, Radha, Krishna, and other deities were stolen. They also took ancient Ashtadhatu worship utensils and a brass bell used during puja and offerings. The theft came to light when the priest arrived at the temple for morning prayers. According to the priests, the temple's main door was traditionally kept open on the night of Dhanteras. The thieves entered through the open entrance and removed the Ashtadhatu idols. A separate burglary took place at the Ram-Janaki Shiva Temple in Charihara village under Masrakh police station. Thieves broke open the temple's donation box and stole approximately ₹20,000 in cash. Villagers discovered the theft when they arrived at the temple in the morning for puja. The two incidents involved the theft of Hindu religious objects and temple property, including ancient idols that had been worshipped for generations, puja utensils, a temple bell, and funds kept in a donation box. The removal of the Ashtadhatu idols from the sanctum was particularly significant because these objects were directly associated with the worship of the deities. The burglary of the second temple also resulted in the loss of funds maintained for temple-related purposes.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The incident has been placed in the 'Undecided' database because, although the theft targeted a Hindu place of worship and involved the removal of religious articles, there is insufficient evidence to establish that the incident was motivated by religious hostility towards Hindus or Hinduism. Temples hold religious and cultural significance for Hindu devotees, and the theft of sacred articles such as brass bells affects the religious premises and the community associated with them. The repeated targeting of the Hindu temple goes beyond the loss of valuable artefacts; it disrupts the sanctity of the temple and desecrates a place of worship by depriving devotees of the sacred deities that are central to religious rituals and daily worship. In that sense, the theft of the idols desecrated the temple's sanctity. However, although Hindu temples are targeted on a regular basis by anti-Hindu perpetrators driven by religious hostility, the facts presently available in this incident do not demonstrate that the theft was motivated by religious animosity. Instead, the available evidence indicates the offence may have been committed primarily to steal valuables for financial gain, suggesting a criminal motive rooted in greed rather than hostility towards the Hindu faith. The fact that a Hindu temple was targeted and its religious articles were stolen does not, by itself, establish a religiously motivated hate crime. Further evidence establishing a religious motive or deliberate targeting of the temple because of its Hindu identity would be necessary to classify the incident as a hate crime. Until such evidence emerges, the case remains in the 'Undecided' database.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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