100-year-old black stone idol and ornaments stolen from Hindu temple in Bangladesh

Case Summary
A hundred-year-old black stone idol and gold ornaments were stolen from Sri Sri Radharaman Jiur temple in Balara village, Harirampur upazila, Manikganj. The theft was discovered by temple priest Mahadev Chakraborty when he opened the temple in the morning and found idols scattered. The miscreants had broken the lock of the temple’s left door to gain entry. The stolen items included the black stone idol, a silver anklet, three gold tips, and a pair of kharams. The priest stated he had been awake in the temple until 1:00 a.m. before the theft occurred. The temple employee, Gopal Saha, mentioned that the incident coincided with a time when the temple's CCTV cameras were sent for repairs, leaving no surveillance footage available. This was the first theft reported at this pilgrimage site. Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Mumin Khan of Harirampur Police Station confirmed the incident and assured that legal action would be taken after a thorough investigation. Since the Sheikh Hasina government’s collapse, Bangladesh faced severe political instability, providing an opportunity for Islamist mobs to target Hindus with violence. Reports indicated that Hindu homes were attacked and burned, while women were abducted in a wave of terror. Numerous temples in the region were also destroyed during this period, reflecting a major crackdown on the Hindu minority community.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the first sub-category 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. The second sub-category relevant here 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 removal of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, escalated the persecution and marginalisation of the Hindu minority in the predominantly Islamic nation, intensifying what can be described as a silent genocide. Since her ouster, Islamists have carried out unchecked atrocities against Hindus, including physical violence, the destruction of temples and religious symbols, and the systematic displacement of Hindus from their ancestral lands. Hundreds of attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses have been recorded following Sheikh Hasina's removal as Prime Minister. Many Hindus have been brutally murdered or injured in these assaults. Amid this, the report indicates, that the hundred-year-old black stone idol and gold ornaments were stolen from Sri Sri Radharaman Jiur temple in Balara village, Harirampur upazila, Manikganj. It is important to highlight that the miscreants involved in the vandalism were fully aware that Hindu temples are sacred centres of worship for Hindus. By targeting the temple, they knowingly attacked the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. The purpose behind this was obviously to intimidate, harass, or provoke the Hindu worshippers. Furthermore, it was done primarily out of animosity for Hindus and their faith, making it worthy of being listed in the tracker.

Case Status
Complaint filed

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
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Perpetrators Range
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Perpetrators Gender
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