Lord Shani Dev idol desecrated; Temple priest and family assaulted while trying to intervene
Jalandhar, Punjab, India 
8 April, 2025
Case Summary
In Jalandhar, Punjab, an idol of Lord Shani Dev was desecrated at a temple located in Thapra Bageechee on Sodal Road. The attacker also physically assaulted the temple priest and his family members. According to eyewitnesses and police sources, the accused, identified as 34-year-old Bahadur, a resident of Jalandhar, stormed into the temple and began behaving aggressively. He struck the idol with a blunt object, severely damaging it. The neck of the idol was broken and fell to the ground. When the temple priest attempted to stop him, Bahadur attacked him and members of his family. Local residents, hearing the commotion, rushed to the scene and alerted Division No. 8 police. Police arrived promptly and launched an investigation. Initially, the priest stated that unknown individuals had carried out the attack, but further investigation led to Bahadur’s identification and arrest. The desecration sparked widespread outrage in the community, with locals assembling at the temple demanding strict action. Authorities assured a thorough investigation and appealed for peace. Meanwhile, at the time of writing this report, temple authorities were preparing to reinstall the idol after completing the required religious rituals.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under two prime categories. The first is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the first sub-category selected 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 second sub-category selected under the above-mentioned category 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 category under which this case has been placed is- Attack not resulting in death and within this, the sub-category selected is- Attacked for opposing radicals or trying to save victim. In several cases, Hindus are attacked for opposing religiously motivated crimes being committed against a fellow Hindu or simply for voicing an opinion opposing radical elements, who either have in the past or continue to persecute Hindus. In such cases, the initial attack against the victim, against which the Hindu was trying to defend the victim, would also need to be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime. Since the initial crime itself was religiously motivated and the subsequent crime of attempting to save the victim or speaking against the radical elements ends up inviting a violent attack, it would also be classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This incident qualifies as a hate crime as the act involved the deliberate vandalisation of an idol of Lord Shani Dev, a deeply revered deity in Hinduism. The accused physically desecrated the idol with a blunt object, shattering its neck, which signifies a blatant insult to Hindu beliefs and religious sanctity. The temple premises were violated, and the idol, which is a sacred representation of divinity, was intentionally defiled. Further, the temple priest and his family were assaulted while trying to protect the idol and stop the desecration. The assault on them indicates that the violence was not random but targeted towards those defending Hindu religious sentiments. Such attacks are emblematic of deep-rooted hostility towards Hinduism, where not only places of worship but also individuals upholding and protecting their faith are violently targeted. The timing, setting, and manner of the attack all underscore religious animosity, warranting its inclusion in the Hinduphobia Tracker under the specified categories.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
