Hindu temples demolished by Muslim builder, illegal flats for Muslims and meat shops come up on temple land
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India 
3 December, 2016
Case Summary
In the Danilimda ward of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, ancient Hindu temples were illegally demolished and desecrated by a Muslim builder named Saqir Ahmed, who constructed illegal residential structures over and around the temple site. Meat shops were also opened directly in front of the temple premises to further insult Hindu religious sentiments. According to reports, in the Gayatri Society of the Danilimda ward area, multiple ancient temples, including the Jogni Mata temple, existed for decades and formed an integral part of the religious life of local Hindus. Over time, two of these temples were demolished, and illegal residential buildings were constructed on the temple land, while one temple that remained had residential flats built directly above it. The illegal building, identified as Kabir Heights, was built by Saqir Ahmed and housed exclusively Muslim families. Furthermore, non-vegetarian meat shops were also opened directly in front of the temple premises, undermining the sanctity of the site. In 2016, the municipal corporation approved a building plan submitted by builder Saqir Ahmed for construction over the temple land, despite the area falling under disturbed zone regulations and despite sustained opposition and repeated complaints by local Hindus to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, the Estate Department, and the Collector’s office. The builder began construction, and the temple spire was deliberately concealed with boards and netting to obscure its religious identity. The builder also demolished the two Hindu temples without informing the authorities or taking permission for their relocation. Local Hindus persistently raised the issue through memorandums, protests, and petitions, highlighting that the temples were ancient, that construction permissions violated planning and land-use norms, and that the structure built over the temple posed safety risks. Subsequently, a formal complaint was submitted in Gandhinagar to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, who took cognisance of the matter in December 2025 and ordered an official investigation into the demolition of temples and the illegal construction. The government assured local Hindu residents that action would be taken to demolish unauthorised structures and restore the temple site, leading to renewed hope among residents that justice would be delivered after years of administrative inaction.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under two primary categories - The first primary category being: Attack on Hindu religious representations; under which the first subcategory is: Attack on temples. 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. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The other subcategory 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 other sub-category selected is - Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple. 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. The other sub-category selected here is - Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This case has been added to the tracker because ancient Hindu temples were illegally demolished and desecrated by a Muslim builder named Saqir Ahmed, who constructed illegal residential structures over and around the temple site. This constituted a targeted attack on Hindu religious symbols and places of worship. Firstly, the temples were not merely structures; they were sacred spaces that held immense spiritual and cultural significance for the local Hindu community. By demolishing two of these temples, concealing the spire of the remaining temple and illegally constructing flats directly over it, the perpetrators demonstrated clear hostility toward Hindu religious symbols, practices, and the community’s right to worship. A temple is an institution that holds immense spiritual importance in the Hindu faith. For Hindus, temples are not mere physical structures; they are sanctified spaces that embody the divine presence of Hindu deities. Acts of violence against such spaces are not isolated incidents of destruction but reflect underlying hostility towards Hindu beliefs and identity. Such an attack is therefore not only material but also symbolic, striking at the Hindu faith itself. Secondly, the attack went beyond material destruction. The deliberate concealment of the temple spire and the erection of residential flats exclusively for Muslim families on top of a sacred site reflected an intent to undermine Hindu presence and assert control over a space central to Hindu devotion. The desecration of the Hindu temples and deliberate encroachment upon its land, shows that the act was not random or incidental, but carried out in a manner that targeted the Hindu community specifically. For Hindus, both the temple and its land are considered the abode of the deity, embodying divine energy. Any form of encroachment or seizure of temple land was an attack on the religious rights and sentiments of Hindus, disrupting their ability to worship and maintain their sacred spaces. Any unauthorised occupation of this space, especially one that halts worship and religious observance, is a violation of that sanctity. Such actions are not only an encroachment in legal terms but a direct affront to the religious beliefs and collective identity of Hindus. Thirdly, opening meat shops directly in front of the temple violated the sanctity of the space. This was a provocative act intended to offend Hindu religious sentiments. Such actions are a deliberate violation of the sanctity of Hindu temples, which are revered as sacred spaces of worship. Establishing such businesses near a Hindu place of worship, especially one dedicated to a deity, amounts to an act of desecration and disrespect, aimed at provoking Hindus and mocking their deeply held beliefs. Such an act reflects a profound disregard for the faith and its practices, stemming from underlying animosity toward Hinduism. This was clearly done with the intent to mock the Hindu faith, underscoring the deep-rooted hatred towards Hinduism in the minds of the perpetrators. This opening of meat shops, along with the broader pattern of illegal construction and encroachment, demonstrates that the acts were motivated by hostility toward Hinduism as a faith and Hindu cultural identity as a whole. Such actions reflect targeted hostility toward Hindus, deliberate disregard for sacred spaces, and an intent to undermine religious identity, making it a religiously motivated hate crime against the Hindu community. Disclaimer: It is important to clarify that none of the media sources covering this case have specified the exact date when the temple was demolished or when the construction began, although it is mentioned that the building plan was approved in 2016. To document this case, we have used an indicative date, 4 December 2016, as a placeholder to represent the onset of the temple’s desecration. While media coverage of the incident emerged on 4 December 2025, the Hinduphobia Tracker records the incident based on when the victim’s ordeal began or when the event occurred, not when it was reported.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
