Desecrated Shivling found discarded in a drain
Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India 
26 September, 2024
Case Summary
In Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, a broken and desecrated Shivling was found discarded in a drain in Nagrota Bagwan, causing outrage among the local Hindu community. The desecration of the sacred symbol led to immediate protests, with Hindus expressing deep anger and demanding justice. The matter was quickly reported to the authorities, and several Hindu groups insisted on strict action against those responsible for the act. The police registered a formal complaint and initiated an investigation to identify and apprehend the culprits. The protestors called for swift justice, stressing the need for respect toward religious sentiments. The local administration assured the public of a thorough inquiry and promised to take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The situation remained tense as the community awaited action on the matter.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category Attack on Hindu religious symbols and under this, the sub-category chosen 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. In this case, some unknown miscreants vandalised a Shivling and threw it in a drain. As a revered symbol in Hinduism, the Shivling represents Lord Shiva and holds deep religious importance. Despite understanding this fact, the perpetrators purposely indulged in such a deplorable act. This deliberate act of throwing the Shivling into a drain reflects not only a disregard for the religious sentiments of the Hindu community but also an intent to provoke and disrespect their faith. Since such callous behaviour can only stem from a profound contempt for the Hindu religion, this case deserves to be recorded in this hate tracker. Further, it is important to mention here that though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed out of hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the desecration of the sacred religious symbol and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint registered
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
N/A
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
