Hindu boy attacked by group of Muslims for opposing grazing of goats on temple-owned land

Case ID : 90a0647 | Location : Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India | Date of Incident : Thu, 23 January, 2025
Case ID : 90a0647
location Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
date 23 January, 2025
Hindu boy attacked by group of Muslims for opposing grazing of goats on temple-owned land
Attack not resulting in death
Attacked for Hindu identity
Attacked for opposing radicals or trying to save victim

Case Summary

A Hindu boy was attacked by a group of Muslims in Gauspur village, Nizamabad, for opposing the grazing of goats on temple-owned land. The incident occurred in the evening at the Maharshi Dattatreya Temple, situated at the confluence of the Tamsa and Kunwar rivers. The temple, which owns 80 Bighas of land used for farming by its priest, Mahant Ravidas Maharaj, became the site of conflict when a group of youths allowed their goats to graze on the temple's crops. Ankit, a teenager hired by the priest to assist with temple work, asked the youths to stop grazing their goats in the field. Angered by his opposition, four to five youths attacked him, beating him severely. Villagers intervened and rescued Ankit, but he sustained injuries. The priest, Ravidas Maharaj, immediately informed Nizamabad police, who arrived at the scene to manage the situation. Local leaders, including village head Shivanand Yadav, were also informed. The police maintained their presence to prevent any escalation. No updates were available if any complaint was filed or any action was taken.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack not resulting in death. Under this, the first sub-category selected is- Attacked for Hindu identity. In several cases, Hindus are attacked merely for their Hindu identity without any perceived provocation. A classic example of this category of religiously motivated hate crime is a murder in 2016. 7 ISIS terrorists were convicted for shooting a school principal in Kanpur because they got ‘triggered’ seeing the Kalava on his wrist and tilak that he had put. In this, the Hindu victim had offered no provocation except for his Hindu religious identity. The motivation for the murder was purely religious, driven by religious supremacy. Such cases where Hindus are targeted merely for their religious identity would be documented as a hate crime under this category. The second sub-category relevant here is- Attacked for opposing radicals or trying to save victim. In several cases, Hindus are attacked for opposing religiously motivated crimes being committed against a fellow Hindu or simply for voicing an opinion opposing radical elements, who either have in the past or continue to persecute Hindus. In such cases, the initial attack against the victim, against which the Hindu was trying to defend the victim, would also need to be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime. Since the initial crime itself was religiously motivated and the subsequent crime of attempting to save the victim or speaking against the radical elements ends up inviting a violent attack, it would also be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This incident underscores the hostility faced by a Hindu boy, Ankit, who was attacked for opposing the grazing of goats on temple-owned land. The actions of the Muslim youths further underscore the religious motivations behind the crime. Despite knowing that the land belonged to the Maharshi Dattatreya Temple—a property of significant religious importance—they chose to graze their goats on this specific field, even though they could have easily opted for another area. This deliberate decision indicates a lack of respect for the temple’s sanctity. It is an intentional disregard for the Hindu faith and a deliberate effort to provoke Hindus. When confronted by the Hindu youth, Ankit, who was merely fulfilling his role in protecting temple property, the group escalated the situation by launching a violent attack. This response was not just a reaction to being stopped but an attempt to intimidate or suppress individuals associated with the temple. The combination of targeting temple land, disregarding its religious significance, and attacking a Hindu youth defending it highlights the deliberate and religiously motivated nature of the incident.

Victim Details

Total Victim

1

Deceased

0


Gender

  • Male 1
  • Female 0
  • Third Gender 0
  • Unknown 0

Caste

  • SC/ST 0
  • OBC 0
  • General 0
  • Unknown 1

Age Group

  • Minor 1
  • Adult 0
  • Senior Citizen 0
  • Unknown 0
Case Status Background
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Case Status


Unknown

Case Status Background
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Perpetrators Details

Perpetrators


Muslim Extremists

Perpetrators Range


From 2 To 5

Perpetrators Gender


male

Case Details SVG
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