Hindu religious event posters torn at Baba Pataleshwar Temple; unidentified man caught on CCTV in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
10 November, 2026
Case Summary
A man was caught on CCTV tearing posters and banners advertising religious events at the ancient Baba Pataleshwar Temple in Gangapur Colony, Yashoda Nagar, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The CCTV footage showed the man arriving at the temple with a cloth tied over his mouth to conceal his identity before proceeding to tear down the posters and banners displayed at the temple premises. The incident came to light after the footage captured his actions. Police initiated an investigation and began examining the CCTV footage to identify the man and ascertain his activities. The incident angered devotees and members of the temple's organising committee, who expressed outrage over the desecration of religious event posters and demanded that the police identify the perpetrator and take appropriate action against him.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the Undecided database due to the lack of sufficient evidence to establish a religious motive behind the incident. The deliberate targeting of posters and banners advertising Hindu religious events at a temple could constitute an act of hostility towards Hindu religious practices and an attempt to disrupt or undermine the public expression of Hindu faith. The fact that the perpetrator concealed his face while carrying out the act also warranted scrutiny regarding his intentions. However, the Hinduphobia Tracker follows strict parameters for classifying incidents as hate crimes and requires sufficient evidence to establish that an act was motivated by hostility towards Hindus on account of their religious identity. In this case, there was no information establishing the perpetrator's identity, religious affiliation, motive or any prior hostility towards the temple or its devotees. The available evidence, therefore, did not establish that the posters were targeted specifically because of their association with Hindu religious activities. In the absence of sufficient evidence to substantiate an anti-Hindu motive, the case has been added to the Undecided database pending further information. 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, 11 November 2026.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
