Hindu religious sentiments hurt: Severed cow head and beef recovered from Hanuman temple premises
Dhubri, Assam, India 
7 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Dhubri, Assam, a severed cow head and beef were recovered from the premises of Hanuman Mandir in Ward No. 3. A Muslim person, identified as Ramjan Ali, a resident of Baluchar, Dhubri district, was arrested in connection with the incident and a case was registered against him under case number 266/25, citing sections 298, 299, 61(2)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 13(1) of the ACP Act, 2021. The unrest began when locals in Ward No. 3 discovered beef on the temple premises. Outraged residents took to the streets, blocking roads and burning tyres while demanding swift arrests. Protesters refused to allow the cow's remains to be removed, insisting that those responsible first be identified and apprehended. "We will not allow the cow's head to be taken away until those behind this act are arrested," said one demonstrator. Police intervened to prevent escalation, but the atmosphere remained tense throughout the day. Following the discovery, disturbances spread rapidly through the area. Late into the night, several shops linked to the beef trade were demolished as part of an administrative eviction drive. Bulldozers were brought in to carry out the demolitions. Fresh incidents of violence occurred on the following day when a group of individuals attacked vegetable vendors and e-rickshaw drivers near the Dhubri Magistrate Colony and New Market. Police forces intervened promptly, firing warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd and regain control of the situation. The Superintendent of Police, accompanied by senior district officials, visited the affected areas and took stock of the situation. In response to the unrest, several shop owners and business operators voluntarily closed their establishments as a precautionary measure. To maintain public order, the district administration invoked Section 188 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, imposing strict prohibitory measures throughout the town. All commercial activities were suspended until further notice, and gatherings of more than four individuals were prohibited. In addition, all rallies, processions, and public meetings were banned. Authorities clarified that emergency services would remain unaffected by these restrictions. Security forces were deployed in sensitive locations, and the local population was urged to stay calm and cooperate with officials. The administration remained on high alert and continued efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the town.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory 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. The other subcategory selected is- Attack on Temples. 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. This incident constitutes a hate crime, as a severed cow head and beef were discovered near a Hindu temple. In Hinduism, temples are sacred spaces of worship, and the deities are revered with deep respect. Acts of temple vandalism, deliberate idol desecration and defilement, as demonstrated in this case, are seen as deeply offensive and sacrilegious. This reflects a profound disregard for Hindu faith and its practices, rooted in underlying animosity towards Hinduism. This incident exemplifies an intentional effort to insult religious sentiments, warranting its inclusion as a serious offence motivated by hatred. It cannot be regarded merely as a breach of law and order, but as a calculated attempt to dishonour Hindu religious customs, especially those related to temple purity and ritual observance. While during Bakrid or Eid-Ul-Adha, the Islamic festival, animals are sacrificed in the name of the messenger of Allah, the discovery of a severed cow head and beef specifically in or near the vicinity of Hindu temples post Eid, transcends religious practice and enters the domain of deliberate desecration and communal provocation. In Hinduism, the cow is revered as a sacred symbol of life, motherhood, and divinity. Temples, as consecrated spaces, are not merely places of worship but embodiments of spiritual sanctity where even the thought of violence or impurity is considered sacrilegious. When a severed cow head and beef are discovered in or around these sacred Hindu spaces, it cannot be dismissed as a mere religious act. Instead, it becomes a highly symbolic gesture of disregard and antagonism, aimed at mocking Hindu beliefs, hurting religious sentiments, and asserting ideological dominance in spaces that are explicitly sacred to another faith. This behaviour reflects not just insensitivity but a conscious and targeted affront to a deeply held Hindu conviction, and must be seen in the broader context of religious supremacism or communal intimidation. Such acts fall under the ambit of religiously motivated hate crimes because they violate the dignity of Hindus by deliberately defiling their most sacred symbols and spaces. Just as the desecration of a mosque or church would rightly be condemned as a hate act, the discovery of severed cow head and beef near Hindu temples is a direct assault on Hindu religious identity. It should be treated with the same seriousness by society and the legal system. In Sanatan Dharma, the cow is also considered sacred and revered as a symbol of life and nurturing. However, historically, Muslim extremists and their religious scholars have encouraged cow sacrifice in India as a means to insult Hindus, whom they view as low-born infidels. In the past, Islamic rulers in India slaughtered cows to insult Hindus, desecrate their temples, and even used beef as a tool for forced conversion to Islam. This context reflects a historical pattern of asserting Islamic supremacy and undermining Hinduism. Such actions are motivated by hatred and contempt for Hindus and their religion. These acts are rooted in a desire to assert Islamic superiority over Hindus and to demean their religious customs and defile their sacred shrines. Since this case is motivated by animosity towards Hindus and their religion, this case is being added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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