Attack on Hindu religious sentiments: youths desecrate murtis of Bhagwan Ram and Hanuman in Kanker, Chhattisgarh
Kanker, Chhattisgarh, India 
8 August, 2025
Case Summary
In the Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, four youths desecrated the murtis of Bhagwan Ram and Hanuman. The incident took place in the Ishan Van area near Nathiya Navagaon. A video circulating on social media clearly shows the youths in an intoxicated state engaging in insulting acts towards the idols, including slapping them and behaving in a disrespectful manner. The circulation of the video sparked outrage among people both on social media and in the local community. Many demanded strict action against the perpetrators. Hindu organisations expressed strong anger over the incident. Upon receiving information, Kanker police took immediate action. The four accused were identified and arrested in Kondagaon district. Investigation revealed that the video was filmed on 9 August when the intoxicated youths went to Ishan Van and committed the acts, recording the entire incident on a mobile phone. Police were conducting a thorough interrogation of the accused. Hindu organisations and local residents demanded the harshest possible punishment to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
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: - 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 selected 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. This case involves the defilement of the murtis of Bhagwan Ram and Hanuman, which are central to Hindu worship and devotion. In Hinduism, murtis are not merely artistic depictions but sacred embodiments of the divine, forming a vital link between the devotee and the spiritual ideal. Daily rituals, prayers, and offerings are made to these murtis, making them integral to religious practice and collective faith. The deliberate act of slapping and behaving insultingly towards the murtis in an intoxicated state, and recording the incident for public display, demonstrates a conscious choice to degrade what is deeply revered in Hinduism. Such acts are not isolated forms of vandalism but are rooted in hostility towards the faith itself, targeting its symbols and spiritual manifestations. Because Hindu religious symbols like murtis hold paramount importance, their desecration directly attacks the sanctity of the religion and the beliefs of its followers. This animosity-driven targeting of sacred icons constitutes a religiously motivated hate crime. Also, in this case, the actions of the accused were carried out in a state of intoxication within a sacred setting, directly violating the sanctity and purity associated with murtis. In Sanatan Dharma, the space around murtis is treated as sacred, and maintaining physical, mental, and ritual purity is central to the customs observed by devotees. Consuming intoxicants and engaging in disrespectful acts in such spaces is considered a grave breach of these customs. The fact that the perpetrators entered the sacred area of Ishan Van in an intoxicated state and desecrated the murtis of Bhagwan Ram and Hanuman shows a deliberate disregard for the sanctity that Hindu traditions demand in the presence of the divine. Such conduct not only defiles the specific custom of maintaining purity in worship spaces but also constitutes an attack on the broader religious ethos of reverence and respect. By violating these customs while targeting the religious symbols, the offenders displayed animosity and contempt towards the Hindu faith and traditions, making it a clear case of a religiously motivated hate crime. Here, one could argue that the accused were drunk and therefore not in a right state of mind. But it is important to understand that intoxication does not absolve criminal intent when the act itself reveals deliberate targeting of a religious symbol. In this case, the accused specifically desecrated murtis of Lord Ram and Hanuman — not an arbitrary object or unrelated property. Even under the influence of alcohol, target selection indicates motive. If the accused had no hostility or intention, his actions could have been erratic or aimless. Instead, the destruction was directed at murtis, revealing a deeper animosity rather than random behaviour. Such targeted destruction is not a random or drunken outburst but a conscious act of hostility against the faith and its public expressions. By attacking Murti, central to Hindu identity and devotion, the act expresses animosity toward the Hindu community as a whole, fulfilling the criteria of a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
