Temple vandalised in Coochbehar district, West Bengal
Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India 
31 March, 2025
Case Summary
A Shiv temple in Balarampur, located in the Tufanganj block of Coochbehar district, was attacked and vandalised by unidentified miscreants. The incident caused distress among the local Hindu community, as the temple had significant religious importance for the residents. Following the attack, the police arrived at the scene and removed the damaged Murti. Authorities assured the community that a new Murti would be installed to restore the sanctity of the temple. However, concerns remained among devotees regarding the security of religious sites in the area. The incident raised tensions, with locals demanding swift action against those responsible. The police launched an investigation to identify the perpetrators and prevent further attacks on places of worship.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The sub-category relevant in this case 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 other sub-category relevant in this case 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 attack on the Shiva temple in Balarampur constituted a hate crime under two key aspects. The vandalism of the temple involved the desecration of a Hindu religious representation, specifically the Murti, which holds deep spiritual significance. Furthermore, the attack targeted a Hindu temple, which is regarded as the abode of the deity and a consecrated space. In Hindu belief, the temple itself, along with its premises, is infused with divine energy, making it an essential part of the faith. Any form of aggression against a temple is not merely an act of vandalism but an attack on the religious identity of Hindus. Given these considerations, the incident qualifies as a religiously motivated hate crime, as it involved an act of aggression against both Hindu religious symbols and a sacred place of worship. It is important to mention here that, though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed out of hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the desecration of the sacred temple and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
