Illegal mosque and shrines come up at the mountain where Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva
Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India 
7 November, 2024
Case Summary
A mosque has been built illegally at the place where Lord Rama had offered water to Lord Shiva in Banda, Uttar Pradesh. Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have protested against this and also written a letter to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding the demolition of the structure. The Shivling is located on the Bambeshwar mountain and is known as the temple of Bamdev Bholenath. The Hindu organisations charged that while there was a lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, the members of the Muslim community secretly built the mosque. VHP Mandal President Ashok stated that half a dozen shrines have also been built at the place. Fatiha is read at the mountain every day and even Friday prayers are regularly organised there. Hindu outfits unveiled that there was no Muslim settlement at the place, but now they have started living there in large numbers which has created a security threat. Hence VHP officials have written a letter to the District Collector, Police Captain and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to demolish the unauthorised buildings. The letter reportedly stated that Muslims are doing Islamisation of the country.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
Distinct elements in this particular case demonstrate that the crime was committed while harbouring a bias against the Hindu faith. Because of the case's specifics, this case has been placed under the prime category: 'Attack on Hindu religious symbols'. To narrow down the search further the sub-category- Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple, has been selected under the above-mentioned prime category. 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. In this case, Islamists illegally constructed a mosque on land historically significant to Hindus. The location, where Lord Rama is believed to have offered water to Lord Shiva, holds sacred value for the Hindu community, particularly as it is associated with the Bamdev Bholenath temple on Bambeshwar mountain. Islamists covertly built the mosque during the COVID-19 lockdown, exploiting the circumstances to seize and convert a sacred Hindu site for Islamic purposes. Further, the fact that multiple shrines have been constructed on this land, and the regular prayers and Fatiha recitations being conducted there, signifies a concerted effort to occupy and alter the religious landscape of the area. The activities of the Muslim community in this location, including a significant increase in settlement, can be perceived as a deliberate attempt at the Islamisation of the area, effectively erasing the Hindu heritage associated with it. Such actions underscore the deep-rooted hatred towards Hinduism in the minds of the perpetrators. Given that the fundamental motivation behind this incident is the animosity towards Hindus and their faith, this instance has been added to the tracker under the following category.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
