Gaushala land encroached by Muslims, Hindu group rallies to defend sacred sites and cultural heritage from encroachment
Garhwa, Jharkhand, India 
9 April, 2025
Case Summary
Under the banner of Dharm Raksha Vahini Garhwa, a rally titled Sanatan Dharm Sanskriti Bachao was organised in Garhwa to present a five-point charter of demands aimed at protecting Sanatan Hindu traditions and sacred spaces. The rally commenced from the Shri Ram Lalla Mandir premises on Station Road and proceeded through the main roads before reaching the Sub-Divisional Officer’s residence, as the official office was closed due to a holiday. There, the delegation submitted their memorandum of demands. The key demands included strict action against cow slaughter and those selling prohibited meat, the relocation of poultry, meat, fish, and egg shops away from crowded areas, cancellation of community-specific land allotment on the Uchari cremation ground and construction of a boundary wall around it, public utility construction such as a stadium or bus stand on government land near the market committee in Teteria Tand, and freeing the encroached land of Shri Krishna Gaushala from illegal occupation. President of Dharm Raksha Vahini Garhwa stated that repeated encroachment on land linked to Hindu religious traditions, including Teteria Tand and Shri Krishna Gaushala by Muslims, had been brought to the administration’s notice several times, yet no public development work had been planned or action taken. He added that even as municipal authorities continued to encroach on Gaushala land, others had followed suit.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added as a religiously motivated hate crime under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near the 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. This case is categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime because it involved the systematic encroachment and illicit occupation of land associated with Hindu religious institutions, such as the Shri Krishna Gaushala. The reported encroachments by members of the Muslim community and the failure of the administration to act despite repeated complaints suggest targeted neglect and disregard for the sanctity of Hindu religious land. The administration’s inaction, even after demands for demarcation and protection of these spaces, highlights a discriminatory pattern where the religious rights of Hindus are neither prioritised nor protected. The illegal occupation of sacred Hindu land goes beyond a property dispute. It reflects an intent to erase or diminish the religious presence and identity of the Hindu community in the area. Such acts are not only violations of legal property rights but are spiritual violations for the practising Hindu community, who see these lands as vital to their religious life. When state authorities ignore these encroachments or fail to enforce protective measures, it strengthens a perception of bias and emboldens further acts of cultural and religious erosion. The deliberate encroachment on spaces central to Hindu worship and community life, therefore, qualifies as a hate crime motivated by religious animosity and institutional indifference.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
