Muslim mob attacks Ganpati Visarjan procession as it passes by a dargah, pelt stones and slippers, damage idol
Mandya, Karnataka, India 
9 September, 2024
Case Summary
On September 11, 2024, communal clashes erupted in Mandya district, Karnataka after stones were thrown at a Ganesh idol near a dargah in Nagamangala town. The conflict began when Hindu youths were participating in a procession for the immersion of the Ganesh idol in Badarikoppalu village. As the procession approached the dargah, tensions rose between the Hindu devotees and members of the Muslim community, leading to an argument. The situation escalated when stones were thrown at the Ganesh idol, along with slippers and displays of weapons. In response to the attack, the Hindu community became outraged and protested outside the police station, placing the damaged idol there and demanding justice. As news of the incident spread, more protesters joined, requesting permission to continue the procession on Mysuru Road. Subsequently, some individuals set fire to shops owned by Hindus, causing widespread damage and destruction to vehicles parked nearby. Mandya Superintendent of Police, Mallikarjun Baladandi, reported that police intervention was necessary to control the crowd, including the use of lathi-charge. The situation led to the enforcement of Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which allows for urgent action in case of public disturbances. Additional police forces were deployed to restore order, and while there were no major injuries reported, a few individuals sustained minor injuries. A bandh was called for September 12 by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, led by Mahesh, the Taluk Secretary of Bajrang Dal.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added as a religiously motivated hate crime under two prime categories of the hate tracker. The first is- Attack not resulting in death. Within this two sub-categories have been chosen, the first being- Attacked for crossing 'Muslim area'- One of the reasons that Hindus get attacked unprovoked specifically by Islamists is for crossing ‘Muslim areas’. Essentially, Muslim mobs often attack Hindus crossing or present in certain areas which have a majority Muslim population. It has often been cited as one of the reasons to blame Hindus for attacks against themselves, signalling that Hindus displaying religious symbols, taking our religious processions or crossing any area which is dominated by Muslim residents is a provocation in and of itself. These areas are mostly ghettoized areas where mobs mobilize quickly to attack Hindus for a variety of reasons like playing music during a religious procession, crossing a mosque, wearing a tilak or any other religious symbol in a Muslim-dominated area, praying at a local temple in that area etc. There have been cases where the few local Hindus of that area have been attacked on their way to the Temple for prayers as well, simply because the area is considered a Muslim-dominated area. Several times, it is entirely possible that the immediate trigger for the violence against Hindus was non-religious in nature, however, the violence became religiously motivated in nature because the area was Muslim dominated and the residents on the whole harboured animosity towards Hindus, evidenced from the actions of the mob, the slogans, and the nature of the attack. Such crimes are motivated by the religious identity of the victims and are therefore classified as hate crimes under this category. One of the reasons that Hindus get attacked unprovoked specifically by Islamists is for crossing ‘Muslim areas’. Essentially, Muslim mobs often attack Hindus crossing or present in certain areas which have a majority Muslim population. It has often been cited as one of the reasons to blame Hindus for attacks against themselves, signalling that Hindus displaying religious symbols, taking our religious processions or crossing any area which is dominated by Muslim residents is a provocation in and of itself. These areas are mostly ghettoized areas where mobs mobilize quickly to attack Hindus for a variety of reasons like playing music during a religious procession, crossing a mosque, wearing a tilak or any other religious symbol in a Muslim-dominated area, praying at a local temple in that area etc. There have been cases where the few local Hindus of that area have been attacked on their way to the Temple for prayers as well, simply because the area is considered a Muslim-dominated area. Several times, it is entirely possible that the immediate trigger for the violence against Hindus was non-religious in nature, however, the violence became religiously motivated in nature because the area was Muslim dominated and the residents on the whole harboured animosity towards Hindus, evidenced from the actions of the mob, the slogans, and the nature of the attack. Such crimes are motivated by the religious identity of the victims and are therefore classified as hate crimes under this category. The second sub-category relevant here is- Attack on religious procession- The outward celebration and display of religious symbols in an intrinsic part of Hinduism. Religious processions on various festivals are age-old traditions and a way to manifest faith and form a part of the religious practices of Hindus. On several occasions, such religious processions come under attack by non-Hindu mobs, in a manifestation of their animosity towards Hinduism and their practices. The reasons cited for such violent attacks are many and range from crossing a non-Hindu resident-dominated area to playing loud music, crossing from an area where there is a religious structure of another faith etc. The violent attacks are triggered by the outward display of religiosity by Hindus. The attacks are mainly a manifestation of religious supremacist doctrine which believes that idolatry, essentially the Hindu faith, is one that deserves to be annihilated since the very tenets of Hinduism, its practices and traditions are considered a sin in those doctrines. Since these attacks emanate from intrinsic and doctrinal animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism, it is considered a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. The second prime category under which this case has been placed is- Attack on Hindu religious symbols. 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. This is a clear instance of a religiously motivated hate crime, as it exhibits targeted hostility against a Hindu religious procession and the desecration of a sacred Hindu symbol. First, the fact that the Hindu devotees were attacked for crossing near a Dargah signaled an assertion that Hindus were not welcome to conduct their religious activities in what was considered a 'Muslim area.' This reflects a broader pattern of hostility, where Muslim mobs, in an attempt to assert religious supremacy, often resort to violence when Hindus cross or are present in areas with a majority Muslim population. Such actions are meant to reinforce religious dominance and intimidate the Hindu community from exercising their right to practice and celebrate their faith freely in shared or public spaces. Additionally, the attack on the religious procession itself—where stones, slippers, and weapons were hurled—demonstrates a deliberate effort to disrupt and disrespect Hindu religious practices. The procession, an essential part of the Ganesh festival, is sacred to the participants, and such aggression directly targets their faith and devotion. Interrupting the procession with violence is an attempt to undermine the religious significance of the event and intimidate the Hindu community from practicing their faith openly. The desecration of the Ganesh idol by throwing stones and slippers at it further solidifies the religious motivation behind the attack. In Hinduism, the idol is not just a symbol but a manifestation of the deity being worshipped. Defiling it in such a manner is an overt act of religious denigration, aimed at insulting and provoking the Hindu community. This form of desecration shows clear contempt for Hindu beliefs, making the incident a targeted hate crime that stems from deep-rooted religious animosity.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
