Severed calf’s head thrown at Hanuman temple in Lucknow
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India 
20 March, 2025
Case Summary
In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, a severed calf’s head was found outside the ancient Hanuman temple in the Madeyganj police station area. Upon discovering the sack containing the head on the temple premises, local residents gathered in protest and raised slogans in anger. According to news reports, local Hindus expressed their outrage and criticised the police administration, pointing out that this was the third such incident in the past two years. They recalled that in April 2024, a cow was attacked with a knife near the temple, and about eighteen months ago, cow meat was thrown in the vicinity. Despite these events, the police had not taken decisive action. MLA Neeraj Bora had to intervene to calm the crowd. He assured the public that strict action would follow. Senior police officials, including ADCP Central Manisha Singh and ACP Mahanagar, were deployed with a large police force to maintain order. RSS Nagar Sanghchalak Ashok Dixit also arrived at the scene and demanded that the culprits be given harsh punishment. The incident deeply wounded the religious sentiments of the local Hindu community. In response, the Lucknow Police issued a statement saying that officers had promptly reached the site upon receiving the report. The severed head was immediately removed out of respect for religious sentiments. Police confirmed that CCTV footage was being reviewed and that special teams had been formed to collect scientific and technical evidence. Authorities urged the public not to believe rumours or share provocative content on social media. MLA Neeraj Bora condemned the act as a deliberate attempt to disturb communal harmony. He said, “The culprits will not be spared.” A veterinary doctor had been consulted for a post-mortem examination, and PAC forces were deployed in the area.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The first sub-category relevant in this case is- Attack on Temple. 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 under which this case has been placed is- Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The third sub-category relevant in this case is- Breaking rules of place of worship. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. One of these oral traditions or written traditions is the rules of specific temples. Certain temples have rules which are traditional rules, dependent on the worship of the presiding deities. These rules and traditions have been followed for thousands of years whether they find scriptural mention or not. Such traditions are based on the nature and rules of worship of the presiding deity of that temple. Any non-compliance of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the presiding deity but also disregard for the faith of the devotees of that deity/temple and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition and the deity itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific temple and presiding deity, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This incident constitutes a hate crime as it involved the deliberate placement of a severed calf’s head within the premises of an ancient Hanuman temple in Lucknow. The act represents a calculated attempt to violate the sanctity of a sacred Hindu space, deeply revered by devotees. Introducing a severed animal head—particularly of a calf, which holds sacred significance in Hinduism—into the temple premises is not just an act of desecration but a targeted provocation designed to insult and injure Hindu religious sentiments. In Hinduism, the cow is revered as holy, and the presence of beef in a temple not only violates religious sensibilities but also defiles a deeply sacred space. Hindu temples are not mere buildings; they are consecrated spaces believed to house the divine presence of the deity. This act is a direct assault on that belief system and reflects a clear intent to dishonour Hindu faith and customs. It cannot be dismissed as a mere law and order issue—it was a premeditated attempt to insult the religious identity of Hindus, particularly by choosing a sacred space and a symbol of veneration (the cow/calf) for desecration. Furthermore, the use of cow-related desecration, especially within the boundaries of a Hanuman temple—where vegetarianism and ritual purity are strictly observed—shows a specific and malicious understanding of Hindu customs. Violating temple purity rules by introducing a severed cow's head indicates a conscious act of religious defilement rooted in hatred towards Hindu traditions. It is also important to note that this was not the first such incident. Local residents reported similar attacks in the past, including the throwing of cow meat and an attack on a cow near the same temple. These repeated offences suggest a pattern of targeted hostility aimed at disturbing religious peace and intimidating the Hindu community. It is also important to mention here that, though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed from hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the defilement and desecration of the sacred idols in the Hindu temple and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. Such attacks underscore religious animosity, warranting their inclusion in the Hinduphobia Tracker under the hate crime database.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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