200-year-old Temple set on fire, locals say arson carried out to hurt Hindu sentiments
Karimganj, Assam, India 
5 November, 2023
Case Summary
On November 6th, unidentified miscreants set ablaze a 200-year-old Hindu temple in Barman Basti village, Ratabari, Karimganj district, Assam. The ancient Shiv-Narayan Mandir was targeted during the early hours of the night within Ratabari police jurisdiction. The temple is revered by the tribal community and was reportedly built in the 19th century. Following the incident, locals gathered at the site, demanding strict action against the perpetrators. They said that the incident was a deliberate attempt to provoke communal tension and hurt Hindu sentiments. The area, known for communal disputes over land sharing between two communities, witnessed outrage over the temple's destruction. During the initial investigation, three gallons of fuel were recovered by the police. A manhunt was launched to apprehend all those involved in the incident. The Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh directed the local police to ensure the restoration of the temple. The repair work was carried out in accordance with Hindu religious customs, including ‘Suddhi Puja’.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. 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 temple and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
N/A
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
