Picture of a Muslim religious leader placed on top of a Shivling at an ancient Hindu temple

Case ID : 59549a8 | Location : Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India | Date of Incident : Thu, 28 November, 2024
Case ID : 59549a8
location Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
date 28 November, 2024
Picture of a Muslim religious leader placed on top of a Shivling at an ancient Hindu temple
Attack on Hindu religious representations
Attack on Temples
Desecration of Hindu religious symbol

Case Summary

The incident involving the desecration of a Shiv temple in Kangra came to the fore when unknown miscreants placed a photo of a Muslim religious leader at the Shiv temple. Devotees, who come to offer water to the Shivling daily, were shocked to find the photo of the Muslim religious leader on top of the Shivling. This incident occurred at the ancient Shiv temple located on the Dharamsala road in Kangra. The situation sparked tension, and locals were upset upon discovering the photo during their morning prayers. The situation escalated, prompting residents to submit a memorandum to the SDM Kangra, demanding action.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been added to the database under the prime category of- Attack on HIndu religious symbol and under this, the sub-category selected 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 incident, where a Muslim religious leader's picture was deliberately placed atop the Shivling, constitutes an act of desecration of a Hindu religious symbol. The Shivling is a sacred representation of Lord Shiva and holds profound significance in Hinduism. Any action that defiles or disrespects it is not only offensive but deeply hurtful to the sentiments of Hindus. By targeting a central symbol of Hinduism, the perpetrators aim to attack the collective identity and faith of Hindus. This act suggests a disregard for the beliefs and traditions of Hindus, which stems from underlying hostility towards their faith and this is why it has been documented in the database.

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Perpetrators Details

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