Attack on Hindu religious sentiments: Hindu temple vandalised and robbed by miscreant in Uttar Pradesh
Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
12 September, 2025
Case Summary
In Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, a Hindu temple named Ram Janaki Temple was vandalised by a miscreant named Rajaram Yadav. The accused also robbed the temple and damaged various items kept inside. According to media reports, the police arrested Rajaram Yadav on 16th September 2025. He had been on the run for three days after vandalising the temple. A gold ring worth ₹20,000, stolen from the temple, was recovered from his possession. On 13th September 2025, the accused entered the temple at night and threatened the priest, Ritesh Tiwari. He vandalised an LED TV worth ₹30,000 along with other important items inside the temple. He also desecrated the idols of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita by throwing away their clothes and stealing the gold ring. When local people gathered near the temple, he fled the scene. The police arrived on the spot and assured the public that strict action would be taken. Based on the complaint filed by the temple priest, Ritesh Tiwari, a case was registered. Sub‑Inspector Shiv Mani Sen stated that after the arrest of the accused and the recovery of the stolen property, he was produced in court. The court remanded him to judicial custody.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category-Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory 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 subcategory selected 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. This is a clear case of a hate crime against Hindus. Firstly, the perpetrator, Rajaram Yadav, vandalised a Hindu temple, which for Hindus is not merely a physical structure but a sacred institution and the divine abode of Hindu deities. Any attack or act of desecration against a Hindu temple displays deep‑seated animosity towards Hinduism and the Hindu community. It is profoundly offensive to Hindus and strikes at their faith and dignity. Furthermore, the accused desecrated and destroyed important religious materials inside the temple. He desecrated the idols of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita by throwing away their sacred clothes, an act that directly insults their holiness. He also damaged other materials belonging to the temple. These objects are not mere possessions; in the context of a temple, they hold devotional and ritualistic importance for Hindu worship. By desecrating them, the perpetrator attacked the sacred symbols of the Hindu faith. The accused also threatened the temple priest, Ritesh Tiwari. This intimidation of a Hindu priest while carrying out the crime further demonstrates his intent to humiliate, silence, and terrorise a representative of the Hindu community. In addition, the accused robbed a gold ring worth ₹20,000 and other valuables from the temple. This shows that the act is not limited to theft. It is a targeted act of desecrating and harming a Hindu temple, motivated by hostility towards Hindu beliefs and practices. Taken together, the vandalism of the temple, the desecration of idols and sacred items, the intimidation of a Hindu priest, and the looting of valuables clearly establish this incident as a religiously motivated hate crime against Hindus. It meets every parameter of Hinduphobia and is therefore being added to the hate crime database in the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
