Hindu family’s Tilak ceremony attacked with stones by Muslim mob
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
2 April, 2025
Case Summary
A communal clash broke out in Colonelganj's Ludhaura area of Kanpur during a Tilak ceremony, narrowly avoiding a major escalation. Tensions flared when members of another community began hurling abuses and stones at the gathering, which was being held under a tent set up outside the Shivala temple. Within moments, large groups from both communities assembled, leading to intense stone-pelting and violence. The police from Colonelganj Circle swiftly intervened and brought the situation under control. An FIR has been lodged against 25 individuals, and three have been arrested and sent to jail. The complaint was filed by Lakshmi, the wife of Raja and a resident of Ludhaura. She reported that her son Shiva’s Tilak ceremony was scheduled for Wednesday. A tent had been erected outside the Shivala temple for food and refreshments, where family and guests were dining. Late in the night, a group of 20–25 local individuals—identified as Adnan, Babu, Guddu, Baua, Khurshid, Nadeem, Chhagga, Imran, Ghulam Gaus, and the nephew of Vantu—stormed the venue, objecting to the tent being set up on the road. When confronted, the group began verbally abusing the hosts and attendees. The situation quickly escalated into physical violence, with the attackers allegedly assaulting Lakshmi’s family and guests. News of the incident spread quickly, and members from both communities gathered, resulting in a large-scale brawl and stone pelting. Six individuals sustained serious injuries during the confrontation. Senior officials including DCP Central Dinesh Tripathi, ACP TB Singh, and Colonelganj police arrived promptly to prevent further escalation. DCP Tripathi confirmed that an FIR has been filed against 10 named and 15 unidentified individuals under serious charges. Nadeem, Tauheed, and Asif have been arrested, while raids are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accused. Authorities have recovered crucial evidence, including CCTV footage, from the scene and are continuing their investigation.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the category of- Attack not resulting in death and within this, the 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. This case has been added to the tracker as it involves a clear instance of targeted violence against a Hindu family and their community members during a religious function. The attack took place during a Tilak ceremony, a traditional Hindu pre-wedding ritual, being held near a temple in Ludhaura, Colonelganj, Kanpur. The perpetrators, belonging to the Muslim community, not only hurled abuses but also violently disrupted the peaceful celebration by pelting stones at the gathering. The fact that the hostility began specifically when a Hindu religious function was being conducted in a public space suggests that the motive was rooted in religious intolerance and a deep-seated animosity towards Hindu customs and identity. This was not a spontaneous dispute but a premeditated assault wherein the attackers collectively emerged late at night and took issue with the tent erected for the Hindu function, threatening, abusing, and eventually assaulting the hosts and guests. Such targeted aggression—especially during a cultural or religious event—constitutes an attempt to instil fear and discourage the public observance of Hindu rituals. The severity of the incident, resulting in serious injuries to at least six individuals and requiring police intervention, underscores the communal nature of the crime. It is, therefore, a textbook example of a hate crime directed at Hindus for merely exercising their religious and cultural rights in their own neighbourhood, warranting inclusion in the tracker.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 10 to 100
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
