Hindu temple vandalised and idol desecrated amidst false online rhetoric of human sacrifice of minor girl
Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana 
30 April, 2025
Case Summary
In Tuschan, Guyana, a Hindu temple named the Sanatan Omkar Mandir was vandalised by protestors amidst false rhetoric of human sacrifice of an 11-year-old girl named Adrianna Younge. This attack also resulted in the desecration of the deity's idol. According to news reports, Adrianna Younge died by drowning. Even the post-mortem report confirmed this. However, her family refused to accept this, resulting in intense protests across the nation demanding justice for the minor girl. During these intense protests, a few protestors vandalised the Sanatan Omkar Mandir in Tuschen. The temple was vandalised amidst false online rhetoric of associating Adrianna's death with Hinduism and, largely, with human sacrifice rituals. On the day of the incident, the perpetrators broke into the temple and vandalised it, smashed the deity's idol and stole the donation box. Surendranauth Tiwari, the Hindu priest of the temple, said that the accused entered through a prised-open window grill. The discovery was made by members who had gone to make preparations for weekly worship. This incident was reported to the Tuschen police, and they started an investigation into the matter. Following this incident, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha said the damage to the idol of the deity is condemnable. They further stated, “Mandirs are peaceful places of worship and their sanctity must be respected. This type of action must not be condoned by anyone but condemned. Religious practice should be respected as it is a right enshrined in our constitution.” The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha demanded that the police catch hold of the perpetrators and prosecute them under the law. The Inter-Religious Organisation of Guyana (IROG) also issued a condemnation regarding the vandalism of the Hindu temple and also towards the disrespect of Hindu temples on social media. The IROG stated, “We stand in full solidarity with the Hindu community in Tuschen and all other affected groups. We urge the relevant authorities to pursue a thorough investigation and ensure that justice is served. Additionally, we encourage community leaders, faith representatives, and citizens alike to speak out against religious intolerance in all its forms and to continue fostering dialogue and mutual respect.” The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) was disheartened after learning about the temple vandalism and also called on the Guyana police to react quickly to solve the matter. The ERC condemned the act of temple vandalism and stated that such acts violate the sanctity of the place of worship for Hindus. ERC stated, “The ERC is deeply concerned by efforts to associate the tragedy of Ms. Adrianna Younge with the Hindu religion. These narratives are not only inaccurate but also threaten the spirit of unity and mutual respect that underpins our multicultural society.” The ERC further urged the public, especially those with large online audiences, to avoid false speculation or rhetoric that associated Hinduism with human sacrificial offerings. The ERC further stated, “The ERC stands with our Hindu brothers and sisters as well as with all other religious groups to denounce such harmful claims, as we continue to join in prayers for Adriana Younge. The ERC remains committed to promoting harmony among all religious and ethnic communities and calls on everyone to engage in responsible dialogue.”
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The sub-category relevant in this case 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 relevant in this case 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. In this case, another primary category selected is - Hate Speech against Hindus. Under this, the subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu subversion and prejudice. The tertiary category selected here is - Anti-Hindu Fake News or Downplaying Hate speech is defined as any speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or display that is prejudicial against a specific individual and/or group of people, which is leading to or may lead to violence, prejudicial action or hate against that individual and/or group. Media plays a specific and overarching reach in perpetuating prejudicial attitudes towards a community owing to unfair, untrue coverage and/or misrepresentation/misinterpretation, selective coverage and/or omission of facts of/pertaining to issues affecting a specific religious group. This type of bias can dehumanise the victim group, making it easier for others to justify harmful actions against them, which aligns with the objectives of hate speech laws aimed at preventing such harm. It is often observed that the media takes a prejudicial stand against the Hindu community driven by their need to shield the aggressor community which happens to be a numeric minority, however, is the one perpetrating violence against Hindus. For example, the media is often quick to contextualise religiously motivated crimes against Hindus, omit or misrepresent facts that point towards religiously motivated hate crimes, justify and/or downplay religiously motivated hate crimes or simply present fake news to stereotype Hindus. Such media bias leads to the denial of persecution and is often used to dehumanise Hindus, leading to justification for violence against them. For example, the media covered several fake allegations of Hindus targeting Muslims and forcing them to chant Jai Shree Ram. Most of these cases were proved false and fabricated after police investigation. These fake news reports were subsequently never retracted or clarified. Such fake news led to the justification of violence and dehumanisation of Hindus based on the argument that since Hindus targeted Muslims and forced them to chant Jai Shree Ram, the dehumanisation of Hindus and violence against them was par for the course and merely a retaliation. Such media bias leads to prejudicial portrayal of Hindus and offers a justification for violence against them and therefore, is considered hate speech under this category. This case of temple vandalism involved the desecration of the deity's idol, which holds deep spiritual significance for Hindus. The act of damaging the deity's idol is deeply offensive to Hindus, as Hindus hold the religious symbols like idols, flags and symbols as sacred, and any attempt to damage it is a direct indication of religious animosity towards Hinduism and Hindus at large. This act signifies a blatant insult to Hindu beliefs and religious sanctity. The perpetrators involved in the vandalism and the desecration were fully aware that Hindu temples are sacred centres of worship for Hindus; despite this, they deliberately attacked the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. The purpose behind this was obviously to intimidate, harass, and provoke Hindus. In Hinduism, a Hindu temple is very sacred and is regarded as the abode of the deity. The temple is highly revered and sacred as it is believed that it is infused with divine energy, making it an essential part of the faith. Any act of aggression against a temple is not merely an act of vandalism but an attack on the religious identity of Hindus, rooted in animosity towards Hinduism. Temples are sacred spaces and centres of worship for Hindus, and such attacks reflect 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. Additionally, the spread of unverified false rhetoric on social media connecting the death of the 11-year-old Adrianna Younge with Hinduism and further associating Hinduism with human sacrifice highlights deep prejudice and animosity towards Hinduism and its followers. Such pre-conceived notions about Hindus and Hinduism result in such attacks on Hindus and their places of worship. It can lead to prejudice against practising Hindus, painting an entire religious community as irrational or dangerous. It further creates distorted views of Hindu culture and religion, especially among those who are unfamiliar with it. It also fuels orientalist and colonial stereotypes that Hindus are 'demon worshippers'. Such dangerous rhetoric encourages disrespect or violence toward temples or religious symbols and can further result in hate crimes or policy bias against Hindus in multicultural societies. Such anti-Hindu rhetoric, along with the act of vandalism and desecration of Hindu temples and idols, fits the parameters of a hate crime and is classified as such under the Hinduphobia tracker.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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