Hyderabad Police prohibits kite flying on all thoroughfares during Makar Sakranti, restricts use of loudspeakers and DJs in public locations
Hyderabad, Telangana, India 
9 January, 2023
Case Summary
Through a notification, the Hyderabad police prohibited kite flying on all thoroughfares and in and around places of worship in the state capital of Hyderabad for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti. Furthermore, the police issued orders restricting the use of loudspeakers and DJs in public locations without prior approval from the police authority. The orders issued by Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand stated that this is in the interest of maintaining law, order, and public safety, as well as preventing occurrences of breach of peace and accidents that are likely to occur.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
In several cases, it is seen that the administration/state disallows a religious practice owing to prejudicial orders and concerns, targeted specifically against the Hindu community. Such restriction/prohibition would be considered documented as a hate crime because the orders are often a result of pressure by groups that harbour animosity towards Hinduism and Hindus. Often, the restriction by the authorities is driven by bias, hostility, or prejudice against the specific community being stopped from holding a religious practice, by pressure groups that harbour animosity towards Hindus, intrinsic to their faith. Since practices are intrinsic to the faith of the Hindus, such prejudicial restriction is considered a curtailing of the fundamental rights of the Hindu community. In several cases, for example, the authorities ban a Hindu religious practice due to pressure from groups opposed to the religion. In other instances the prohibition is selectively enforced against one religious group (Hindus) while others are allowed to proceed. There are still other cases where the authorities preemptively restrict a religious practice by Hindus because those who hold animosity towards Hindus may get “provoked” leading to them being violent, thereby assuaging the sentiments of those who hold animosity towards Hindus by curtailing the religious rights of Hindus. Such acts and orders are prejudiced, indicating discriminatory motives owing to the capitulation to groups that harbour animosity towards Hindus and therefore, would be categorized as a religiously motivated hate crime since the original pressure leading to the order itself is a result of hatred/bias/prejudice/religious hate against Hindus. In this case, the Telangana government prohibited Hindus from flying the kite during Makar Sankranti, one of the most important Hindu festivals which blends agricultural, spiritual, and cultural significance. The practice of kite flying is a major part of the Makar Sankranti celebrations and by restraining Hindus from celebrating their festival, the Govt attempted to deny the Hindu community its fundamental rights. The arbitrary action taken by the Telangana govt was prejudicial to the rights of Hindus and stemmed from animosity and prejudice against Hindu beliefs. This is why this case has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
