Hindu temple targeted by Pakistan amidst Operation Sindoor during India-Pakistan conflict
Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India 
10 May, 2025
Case Summary
During India's Operation Sindoor — a military retaliation launched on April 22, 2025, following the Pakistan-backed massacre of Hindus in Pahalgam — India conducted precise strikes solely on terror launch pads and infrastructures inside Pakistan. These strikes targeted known hubs of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, and other Islamist groups, with no harm directed toward civilian areas or religious sites. In contrast, Pakistan responded by launching drone and missile attacks on May 9 and 10, 2025, targeting Indian civilian populations and infrastructure across North and West India, including Delhi. This deliberate targeting of non-military zones marked a stark escalation. Among their targets were revered places of worship, including the historic Aap Shambhu Temple in Jammu and the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Fortunately, Indian air defence systems intercepted the attacks in time, preventing damage. This was not Pakistan’s first such act. A previous drone strike in Poonch targeted a gurdwara, causing civilian deaths. The Ministry of Defence stated on X: “Pakistan continued its hostilities on 10 May 2025 by targeting places of worship like the famous Shambhu Temple and residential areas in Jammu… The Indian Armed Forces remain vigilant and committed to defending the nation’s sovereignty.” The attack on the Shambhu Temple highlights a disturbing shift — while India focused on neutralising terror threats, Pakistan escalated by targeting civilians and sacred symbols of faith.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected here 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 themselves 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 targeting of a Hindu temple by Pakistan, despite the understanding that temples are sacred spaces and centres of worship for Hindus, reflects a deep disregard for Hinduism. Such attacks not only cause physical destruction of the religious site but also inflict profound wounds on the spiritual and cultural fabric of the Hindu community, as temples symbolise their faith and collective identity. The deliberate assault on these revered spaces highlights the entrenched animosity the adherents of Islamic faith harbour towards the Hindus. Some pseudo-seculars and anti-Hindu leftist groups may argue that such an attack was not specifically targeted at a Hindu site but was merely a consequence of war. However, it is crucial to acknowledge Pakistan’s historical foundation, which has been rooted in anti-Hindu hatred and bigotry. Since its creation, there has been a persistent pattern of persecution of the Hindu community- ranging from killings and forced conversions to the abduction, rape, and coerced marriage of Hindu women to Muslim men. Hindu temples in Pakistan are routinely attacked and vandalised. Additionally, the Pakistan-backed Pahalgam terror attack, where Hindu civilians were murdered after confirming their religion, also makes Pakistan's animosity towards Hindus very evident. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to conclude that the targeting of a Hindu temple stems from deep-seated hatred towards Hinduism and Hindus in general. Accordingly, this incident has been included in the tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
