Hindu religious symbol desecrated; Saffron flag with Lord Hanuman’s picture thrown on the ground
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India 
25 April, 2025
Case Summary
Communal tensions erupted in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, after CCTV footage surfaced showing a shop employee removing a saffron flag from a vehicle parked in the Ghodon ka Chowk market area the previous night. The flag, which featured an image of Lord Hanuman, was reportedly thrown onto the ground by the employee. The incident quickly sparked protests, with locals and members of Hindu organisations gathering in the area to demand action against the accused. The video of the incident went viral, prompting widespread outrage, as the saffron flag is seen as a sacred symbol of Hinduism. The police intervened, detaining the employee, though his identity was not immediately confirmed. The shop where he worked is owned by Shaukat Ali, who, along with the employee, is reportedly from West Bengal. Despite the police's efforts to disperse the crowd, protesters rallied in front of the Sojati Gate police chowki, pressing for accountability. Naveen Soni, President of the Jodhpur Jewellers’ Association, accused shopkeeper Shaukat Ali of harboring radical views, adding that Ali had been absconding since the incident. "The shop owner, who is from West Bengal, is known for his radical outlook and activities," Soni said. Alok Srivastava, DCP Jodhpur, explained that he was alerted to the situation at 11:30 AM. "The individual responsible for the misconduct was detained at the police station. Afterwards, local leaders and members of different organisations gathered and pressed for the market’s closure. Around 300-400 people gathered at the scene, but the market was later reopened after peace was restored. Police personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any further unrest. Action will be taken against the culprit according to the law."
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations, and within this, the sub-category selected 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. In this particular case, a saffron flag with the picture of Lord Hanuman, a revered deity in Hinduism, was desecrated by an employee of a man named Shaukat Ali. 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
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
