Communists put up hoarding covering saffron flags at Attukal Temple during Pongala festival
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India 
19 February, 2024
Case Summary
During the Attukal Pongala festival in Thiruvananthapuram on February 17, communist workers removed saffron flags and decorations from the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. They also erected a hoarding glorifying the Kerala CM, covering some saffron flags, leading to protests by Hindu groups. The tension escalated when the hoarding reappeared on February 20, resulting in Hindu devotees tearing it down amid a clash with the police.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been classified under the sub-category 'Desecration of Hindu religious symbol' within the prime category 'Attack on Hindu religious symbols' of the hate tracker. 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. In this particular case, saffron flags that were placed atop a Hindu temple were desecrated by some leftists. Because of their spiritual, cultural, and historical importance in Hinduism, saffron flags are powerful emblems of Hindu identity. It is seen as an insult to the Hindu faith to desecrate such flags or any other Hindu religious symbol, and anyone who engages in such criminal activity would only do so out of hatred for Hinduism. Given that the fundamental motivation behind these actions is contempt for the Hindu religion, this instance has been added to the tracker under the following category.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
