Kali temple land encroached by Muslim man in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh; Hindu villagers demand action against encroachment
Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, India 
17 July, 2025
Case Summary
In Rudra Garh Nausi village of Gond district, Uttar Pradesh, the land belonging to the Kali temple was encroached upon by a Muslim man. According to reports, Hindu villagers of the area reported that a Muslim man named Asgar Ali, son of Mohammad Ali, has illegally encroached on the temple land and constructed a road over it. In response, several villagers, including Ramgopal Moriya, Ramanand Maurya, Mahangi Neta, Bahadur Maurya, Durga Prasad Gupta, Gulabchand Maurya, Mata Sharan Dubey, and Kesari Moriya, went to the Dhanepur police station to lodge a formal complaint. As of the date of writing this report, police stated that based on the complaint received, an investigation was ongoing, and necessary legal action would be taken.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of: - Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within it, the sub-category selected is: - Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near 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. Not only the Temple but the Temple premises in its entirety are considered sacred by Hindus. In several cases, the premises of the Temple and/or religious centre are illicitly taken over by institutions belonging to other faiths – like the Waqf board or the Church. Other times, the temple property, land or the property of religious centres are illicitly encroached by non-Hindu groups. Any illicit take over or encroachment is a crime an initio, however, when non-Hindu groups illicitly take over or encroach the sacred land of Hindus, it is an affront to the Hindu community and is therefore classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This case has been added to the tracker because the Kali temple land was encroached upon by a Muslim man named Asgar Ali. In Hinduism, a temple is not just a place of worship but the abode of the Deity. The entire temple premises is considered sacred and is believed to embody the divine presence. Thus, any attempt to encroach upon this land is an attack on the sanctity of the temple and its presiding deity. Such actions are seen not only as a violation of property rights but also as a direct affront to the religious sentiments and cultural heritage of the Hindu community. The attempted takeover of the temple land was a strategic act to gain physical control over a sacred Hindu site through illegal means, thereby undermining the historical and spiritual presence of Hindus in the area. Such moves are part of a broader pattern, where temples and their premises are gradually taken over under false pretences through illegal means. What may seem like a minor act, constructing a road over it, often is a precursor to a complete takeover of the temple land. These encroachments are aimed at undermining the Hindu religious presence in the area, with the ultimate goal of complete erasure of the Hindu presence from public and sacred spaces. Disclaimer: It is important to clarify that the report does not specify the exact date when the encroachment began. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
