Hindu religious symbol insulted; four Muslim youths urinate on Indian map on Independence Day eve
Jhargram, West Bengal, India 
13 August, 2025
Case Summary
In Jhargram district of West Bengal, the Nayagram Police arrested four Muslim youths after they were caught on CCTV urinating on a map of India, which was drawn on the ground as part of Independence Day celebrations in a school. The arrested individuals were identified as Abu Fida, Golap Sheikh, Alam Sheikh and Abdul Alim, all residents of Sagardighi in Murshidabad district. The four had come to Jhargram for work as masons. The act of insulting the Indian map took place on the night of 14 August 2025, which led to escalating tensions in the area. Police promptly registered a case, took the accused into custody and produced them before the court. The judge remanded them to three days of police custody for further investigation into the incident.
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. This case has been added to the tracker because four Muslim youth urinated on the Indian flag just a day before Indian Independence Day celebrations. Though some may argue that the map of India is not strictly a Hindu religious symbol, it is pertinent to note that Muslim extremists harbour a specific animosity towards Hindus and their faith and, in extension, view India itself as a Hindu collectivity. The very basis of the partition of India was that the Muslims believed that Islam was a nation unto itself, which could not survive with a Hindu collectivity like India. This separatist worldview manifests in contempt towards symbols that represent India, which in their eyes are synonymous with Hindu civilisation. Thus, when Muslim groups desecrate the Indian map, it is out of their religious hatred towards Hindus and the civilisation that India represents. Since the desecration in this case stemmed from religious animosity, it was considered an attack on a Hindu religious symbol and was thus added to the tracker.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
