Muslim men vandalise Chhath puja ghat in Bihar's Motihari claiming ownership of the pond
Mothihari, Bihar, India 
3 November, 2024
Case Summary
Tensions between two communities in Motihari, Bihar, erupted over the construction of Sirsopta (temporary structure or the ghat) for Chhath Puja at a pond in Nanhkar village. Villagers from Amodei, belonging to the Muslim community, who claim ownership of the pond, damaged the Sirsopta being built by Nanhkar Hindu villagers, leading to them getting angry. The dispute stems from a long-standing issue over the pond's ownership. While the villagers of Nanhkar have been using the pond for Chhath Puja, Amodei villagers claim it as their private property. The conflict escalated when Nanhkar villagers started constructing additional Sirsopta to accommodate growing devotees. Amodei villagers alleged that the construction was beyond the agreed limits, while Nanhkar villagers defended their actions. After this incident, the situation was brought under control with the prompt action of the police and administrative officials. On Monday, a meeting was held between the two communities in the Ramgarhwa police station premises under the leadership of SDM Shivakshi Dixit and SDPO Dhirendra Kumar. In this, everyone was instructed that no new construction would be done on the disputed land till the Chhath festival. After Chhath, there will be a hearing on the ownership of this land.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been documented as a religious hate crime because the details clearly show that the offender had a bias against the Hindu faith and that the offence was performed in conjunction with that bias. Based on the case details, it has been added under one prime category of the tracker, which is- Attack on Hindu religious symbols. Under this, two sub-categories have been chosen. The first 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 second sub-category under which this case has been placed is- Violence against religious structures or centres. In Hinduism, a religious structure is also considered divine. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the religious structure itself is sacred. In this sub-category, we would document attacks against religious structures which are not consecrated temple spaces. Such religious spaces could be temporary in nature – for example – the religious spaces erected specifically for festivals like Durga Puja etc. This category would also document cases of attacks against religious centres. These spaces in their own right may not be ‘sacred’ per se, however, are often spaces where religious gurus live, religious teaching is imparted, or belong to religious institutions. Any attack against religious structures is a result of animosity towards the religion itself, which manifests itself through the religious spaces and therefore, such attacks are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Religious centres are also manifestations of the religion, its teachings or gurus and therefore, attacks against such centres would be considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Chhath Puja, an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and surrounding areas. The act of damaging the Sirsopta, structures built specifically for Chhath Puja rituals, disrupts the observance of this sacred festival, affecting the local Hindu community’s ability to practice their faith peacefully. Although the perpetrators claimed the dispute was over pond ownership, their targeting of the festival site and its religious symbols goes beyond property concerns, reflecting an intent to undermine Hindu practices and create a hostile environment for devotees. This incident reveals an attempt to infringe on the community’s right to religious expression, as the damage to the ghat undermines the preparations for Chhath, a festival that is celebrated with strict ritual and spiritual discipline. Such actions not only disrespect the religious significance of the festival but also serve to intimidate and discourage Hindu worshippers from openly practising their beliefs. The attack, therefore, can be seen as a deliberate attempt to convey animosity against Hinduism by desecrating a sacred space during a time of worship, constituting a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
