Christian missionaries attempt to claim Hindu temple: Cover it with black cloth, chant Jesus' name inside
Panskura, West Bengal, India 
23 February, 2025
Case Summary
In West Bengal's Panskura area, members of a Christian missionary group covered a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu with a black cloth and began chanting the name of Jesus Christ inside the temple. This act appeared to be a deliberate attempt to promote religious conversion among the local Hindu population, sparking outrage among the Hindu community. As tensions escalated, a confrontation ensued between the Hindus and the missionaries. Determined to protect their place of worship, the Hindus removed the cloth that had been draped over various parts of the temple and forcefully opposed the missionary activity. In a strong show of defiance against the religious imposition, they chanted 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' and performed a purification ritual by conducting a pooja and planting a sacred Tulsi plant within the temple premises.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under two prime categories. The first is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the 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 selected under the above-mentioned prime category 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 third sub-category relevant here is- Abrahamic religious chanting outside Hindu religious places and/or during Hindu activities. 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. Similarly, religious activities hold deep significance for Hindus, as they are intricately connected to their spiritual, cultural, and social lives. These practices encompass rituals, festivals, prayers, and pilgrimages that celebrate and honour various deities, fostering a sense of spiritual connection, community, and cultural continuity. Given the central significance of Temples and religious activities in Hindu Dharma, any aggressive Abrahamic chanting outside Temples or during religious activities negates the divinity of the religious space because the chanting itself negates the existence of any other God other than the God of the Abrahamic faith. Such chanting is specifically done to negate the faith of Hindus, establish religious supremacy, intimidate the devotees and mock the faith. Besides temples, such Abrahamic chanting outside any Hindu place of worship or religious structure or during any religious activity has the same effect. Since such acts are rooted in an inherent religious supremacist mentality driven by religious animosity, such crimes would be considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. Based on the details, the second prime category under which this case has been placed is- Predatory Proselytisation and within this, the sub-category selected is- Attempting to convert/converting by denigrating Hinduism. In several cases, Hindus are converted or an attempt is made to convert Hindus by denigrating their faith, Hinduism. In such cases, the Hindus associate with the non-Hindu perpetrators often by choice and then, the attempt to convert them by insulting their faith, showing the faith down etc begins. An example of this would be a non-Hindu gathering where the Hindus are attending the gathering of their own free will. However, once they attend the gathering, there is an explicit attempt to convert them by abusing their faith and hailing the faith of the perpetrator. The denigration of the Hindu faith is often based on misrepresentation of the Hindu faith, its doctrine and scriptures and insult to espoused traditions if not blatant lies about Hindu beliefs and ways. Such conversions or attempts at conversions are driven by animosity towards the Hindu faith and are therefore documented as religiously motivated hate crimes. This incident has been recorded in the tracker due to its clear religious markers that demonstrate hostility toward Hindu religious symbols and an evident attempt at forced proselytisation. Covering a Hindu temple with a black cloth and chanting Christian prayers within its premises is not only an act of desecration but also a direct assault on Hindu religious identity. Such actions reflect a calculated effort to diminish the sanctity of Hindu places of worship and assert religious dominance, which aligns with historical patterns of aggressive conversion tactics. Furthermore, this incident exemplifies predatory proselytisation, as the Christian missionary group sought to impose their beliefs by undermining Hindu traditions and rituals. The act of chanting Christian prayers inside a Vishnu temple while covering its structure was a blatant attempt to displace Hindu worship and replace it with Christian doctrine. This aligns with a broader trend where missionary groups attempt to convert Hindus by portraying their faith as inferior. The incident, therefore, represents both an attack on Hindu religious symbols and an attempt to enforce religious conversion through denigration, justifying its inclusion in the tracker under these specific categories.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
