Muslim man in Bijnor posts vulgar remarks against Sri Ram and Mata Sita on Instagram; arrested after outrage from Hindu villagers
Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, India 
7 March, 2025
Case Summary
In Dhampur, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, derogatory remarks were made against Sri Ram and Mata Sita by a Muslim man named Arif Ahmed, the son of Gram Pradhan Nisar Ahmed. Arif made offensive remarks about Sri Ram and Mata Sita on his Instagram account, named 'Aatank ka doosra naam Arif don'. He posted a video status with images of Sri Ram and Mata Sita, accompanied by indecent comments. Local villagers saw the post and became outraged. A man named Vishesh Rajput reported that he was browsing Instagram at 11 AM when he came across Arif's video containing vulgar remarks about Sri Ram. Angered by the incident, the villagers went to the police station to file a complaint against Arif. They also informed the police that Arif had previously been involved in cases of theft, fights, and molestation. The police registered a complaint against Arif under section 299/353(2) BNS and 66 IT Act. The police then arrested the accused.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category - Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Iconoclastic representation of Hindu gods/ goddesses. An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. 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. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. The other sub-category selected is - Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. The incident in Dhampur, Bijnor, where a Muslim man named Arif Ahmed posted derogatory remarks about Prabhu Shriram and Ma Sita on Instagram, constitutes a clear case of hate speech against Hindus. The act involved not only the public dissemination of highly offensive and indecent content targeting revered Hindu deities but also the intent to provoke and insult the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. Prabhu Srirama and Mata Sita are central figures in Hinduism, symbolising dharma, sacrifice, and ideal moral conduct. Mocking or making vulgar remarks about them is not simply a matter of personal opinion or satire—it reflects a calculated act of religious denigration. In recent times, social media has increasingly become a platform for anti-Hindu hate, with derogatory memes, videos, and messages targeting Hindu religious symbols, practices, and deities. Such content is recognised as part of a broader pattern of Hinduphobia and religious hate speech online. This deliberate targeting of revered religious deities firmly establishes this act as a religiously motivated hate speech; therefore, it is being categorised under the hate crime database. Disclaimer: It is important to clarify that the report does not specify the exact date when the anti-Hindu video was uploaded on social media. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the accused was arrested.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
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