3 Muslim men caught disguised as Hindu Sadhus in Gujarat
Surat, Gujarat, India 
1 November, 2024
Case Summary
A video from Surat, Gujarat, went viral, showing three men dressed as Hindu sadhus in saffron clothes, begging on the streets. Shared on November 2, 2024, the 43-second clip showed locals questioning the authenticity of these supposed sadhus. Viewers found that the men, all wearing long beards and markings on their foreheads, were not Hindu sadhus but Muslims in disguise. When locals asked the men to recite a Hindu shloka, one replied with "Dua hai humara dua," which raised further suspicion. Upon being asked how many Hindu gods they knew, they only mentioned "Bholenath," leading bystanders to doubt their identities. One man checked the ID card of one of the sadhus and discovered his name was Salman, adding to the confusion and sparking further allegations. Others in the crowd suspected the men might be Rohingyas. As the video circulated widely, news outlets like Zee 24 Kalak reported on the incident, captioning it with, "Salman Nath caught in the guise of a sadhu." The scene stirred tension, with locals accusing the men of impersonating Hindu sadhus for personal gain. Police investigation or further details regarding the incident were not reported at this stage.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case is being added to the primary category 'attack on Hindu religious symbols' under the sub-category 'desecration of Hindu religious symbols'. 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 religious symbol which is being desecrated in this case is the saffron robe worn by Sadhus - signifying detachment and enlightenment. The colour saffron holds great significance in Hinduism. Sadhus wear the colour saffron because it signifies sacrifice, detachment and enlightenment. Saffron also signifies 'Agni' (fire) - one of the 4 principal deities. In Rigveda, Agni or fire is called a priest of sacrifice and treasurer of knowledge - which is why saffron is the colour donned by the Sadhus and Priests in Hinduism. In this case, the Muslim perpetrators wore the colour saffron and pretended to be Hindu sadhus in order to deceive Hindus, manipulate their piety and earn money. They were oblivious about Hindu customs and deities, proving that they were observant followers of Islam and held no piety and faith towards Hinduism. In that manner, by donning and attire which holds great spiritual and religious significance for Hindus, the Muslim perpetrators desecrated the sanctity of the attire worn by Hindu monks. For that reason, this case is being added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
