Attack on Hindu faith: Ancient Hindu temple vandalised by miscreants in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India 
7 November, 2025
Case Summary
In the village of Chhiri, located in the Bara police station area of Prayagraj, the ancient Patharbandi Mahadev Temple was vandalised late at night by unidentified individuals. The miscreants broke a portion of the temple’s wall and tried to enter the sanctum. Initial investigation suggested that the act may have been an attempt to search for a supposed hidden treasure, as local rumours about such a treasure had circulated for years. According to available information, the incident occurred around 2 a.m. on the night of 8th November 2025, and continued until early morning. When locals visited the temple the next morning, they found a section of the wall broken and soil from the temple premises dug up. The villagers immediately informed Satish Gupta, the temple’s chief priest and secretary of the Temple Service Institution, who then complained to the Bara police station. Satish Gupta mentioned that similar acts of vandalism had occurred in the past as well. He explained that due to persistent rumours of buried treasure, anti-social elements had repeatedly tried to damage the temple. Upon receiving the report, the Bara police reached the site and examined the scene. Officials from the Archaeology Department and local administration also joined the investigation. Vijay Kumar, the Naib Tehsildar of Bara, inspected the location and sought a detailed report from the officers. The Patharbandi Mahadev Temple had recently been taken under the protection of the Archaeology Department (ASI) due to its historical and cultural importance. The preservation and beautification work had been entrusted to an organisation named Kardayi Sanstha. Members of the Temple Service Institution urged the administration to strengthen security and conduct a thorough investigation, emphasising that repeated vandalism was harming the sanctity and heritage value of the temple. Bara Police Station in-charge, Vinod Sonkar, confirmed that an investigation was underway. Evidence collected from the temple premises was being analysed to identify the culprits. He stated that those responsible would not be spared, and additional security measures were being arranged to protect the temple.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This incident involved the vandalisation of a Hindu temple by perpetrators searching for a supposed buried treasure. This act could potentially be categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime because the perpetrators deliberately desecrated the premises of a Hindu temple—an institution that holds profound significance for Hindus. Hindu temples are the sacred abodes of the deities and are held in the highest reverence by the Hindu community. Any attack on a temple or its grounds is a direct affront to the faith and sentiments of Hindus. It must also be noted that Hindu temples are routinely attacked and looted by anti-Hindu elements, and this was not the first such incident at this site. Such recurrent attacks are often driven by deep-seated religious animosity towards Hindus, their faith, and their places of worship. However, in this specific instance, the temple administration and available reports strongly suggest the attack was motivated by the pursuit of treasure, as the ground was dug up to excavate and steal the supposed treasure. Given that the identity of the culprits remains unknown and there is currently no explicit evidence suggesting religious motivation behind the crime, this case is presently being classified under the "Undecided" database. If further information emerges that explicitly indicates religious animosity as the primary motivator for this crime, this case will be immediately reassessed and included in the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
