Hindu religious symbol desecrated; Lord Hanuman's statue vandalised by miscreant in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh
Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, India 
9 November, 2026
Case Summary
In Sujatpur village, located in the Khaliya area of Bhadohi district, Uttar Pradesh, a statue of Lord Hanuman situated in a Dalit settlement was vandalised by anti-social elements. The incident took place on Tuesday night, 10 November 2026, when the Hanuman idol was damaged and desecrated, triggering anger and tension in the village. The incident came to light after the Police Response Vehicle (PRV) received information on Tuesday night about a man who had broken the Hanuman idol. Following the information, a PRV team reached the spot and inspected the scene. On the following day, 11 November 2026, villagers gathered and approached the Gopiganj police station, demanding action against the person responsible. A large number of people from the locality reached the police station, and considerable anger was witnessed among the residents over the vandalism. According to villagers, there had been a longstanding dispute between two residents of the Dalit settlement over worship at the temple where the Hanuman statue was located. The dispute had previously been resolved through mutual discussions. However, the vandalism of the idol on Tuesday night reignited tension in the village. Acting on a complaint filed by Jitendra Kumar, the police detained the person named in the complaint. Inspector-in-charge Sachchidanand Pandey stated that a case had been registered following receipt of the complaint and that appropriate action was being taken in the matter.
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 here is - Desecration of Hindu religious symbols. 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. The incident constituted a hate crime because it involved the deliberate desecration of a sacred Hindu religious object, namely the idol of Lord Hanuman, which held religious significance for the devotees worshipping at the temple. Lord Hanuman holds a deeply revered position in Hinduism and is worshipped as the embodiment of strength, courage, devotion, selflessness, and unwavering loyalty. Considered one of the most prominent devotees of Lord Rama, he is widely worshipped across India, with devotees seeking his blessings for protection from evil, strength in adversity, and the removal of obstacles. Temples and idols dedicated to Lord Hanuman hold immense religious and cultural significance for Hindu communities, often serving as important centres of worship and community gatherings. Consequently, the desecration of a Hanuman idol is deeply hurtful to the religious sentiments of devotees, particularly when the shrine serves as a place of worship for a local community. An idol of a Hindu deity is not merely a physical object or an ordinary statue; it represents the presence of the deity and is central to the religious faith, worship and spiritual practices of Hindu devotees. Deliberately damaging such an object therefore amounted to an attack on an important expression of Hindu religious identity and faith. The act went beyond ordinary property damage because the object targeted was specifically associated with Hindu worship. The fact that the vandalism occurred despite an existing dispute over worship at the temple did not diminish the religious significance of the act. A disagreement between individuals over temple worship does not justify the destruction of a Hindu deity's idol. The deliberate targeting of a sacred religious object transformed the matter into an attack on a central symbol of Hindu faith, rather than an ordinary disagreement between residents. The incident therefore had a direct impact on the religious sentiments and sense of security of the Hindu devotees associated with the temple. Even though the perpetrator's identity remained unknown, such actions stemmed from religious animosity towards the Hindu faith. Therefore, this case has been
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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