Puja Pandal attacked by armed Muslim mob, Hindu devotees injured

Case ID : aa4b456 | Location : Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India | Date of Incident : Fri, 28 March, 2025

Case ID : aa4b456

Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India

28 March, 2025

Puja Pandal attacked by armed Muslim mob, Hindu devotees injured

Attack on Hindu religious representations

Defiling religious customs

Violence against religious structures or centres

Attack not resulting in death

Attack against Hindu devotees

Case Summary

In the Dakshin Barbaria village of the Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, a Hindu Puja pandal was attacked by a Muslim mob, resulting in severe injuries to 10 Hindu devotees. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari posted on X about the incident, stating: “#Dakshin Barbaria village, Purba Medinipur – Devotees from Dakshin Barbaria village in the Basudeb Berya area of Bhagawanpur II Block, Purba Medinipur district, organised Maa Chandi’s Puja. Jihadists suddenly attacked the Puja pandal and grievously injured at least 10 Hindus. They used sharp weapons, causing deep cuts. The injured have been taken to Mugberia Hospital for treatment. The photos and videos attached are from this incident.” According to this X post, Hindu devotees were conducting a puja for Goddess Chandi in a pandal when they were attacked by a Muslim mob wielding sharp weapons, resulting in injuries to at least 10 Hindus. The injured Hindu devotees were taken to Mugberia Hospital. Suvendu Adhikari also shared photos and videos related to the incident on his official X handle. Adhikari also criticised the Chief Secretary of West Bengal for failing to prevent such targeted attacks on Hindus and their religious sites. He further blamed the police for not acting decisively to stop the violence against Hindus by Muslim mobs.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is- Violence against religious structures or centres. In Hinduism, a religious structure is also considered divine. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the religious structure itself is sacred. In this sub-category, we would document attacks against religious structures which are not consecrated temple spaces. Such religious spaces could be temporary in nature – for example – the religious spaces erected specifically for festivals like Durga Puja etc. This category would also document cases of attacks against religious centres. These spaces in their own right may not be ‘sacred’ per se, however, are often spaces where religious gurus live, religious teaching is imparted, or belong to religious institutions. Any attack against religious structures is a result of animosity towards the religion itself, which manifests itself through the religious spaces and therefore, such attacks are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. Religious centres are also manifestations of the religion, its teachings or gurus and therefore, attacks against such centres would be considered religiously motivated hate crimes. The other subcategory selected is- Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. Another primary category that is relevant in this case is- Attack not resulting in Death. The subcategory selected is- Attack against Hindu devotees. Hindu devotees are a few of the easiest targets of religiously motivated hate crimes because during the festival/procession/puja etc, for non-Hindus it is easy to profile their victims on the basis of religion. Hindu devotees come under attack on several occasions by individual non-Hindus or mobs of non-Hindus owing to their animosity against Hinduism, its symbols and tradition/practices. There are several instances of Hindu devotees being attacked while they worship in temples or temporary religious structures, during religious processions, doing bhajan/kirtan/puja in their own homes, in the residential society etc. These attacks are perpetrated by non-Hindus primarily because of their animosity towards Hindus and their faith. In some cases, the trigger for the violence may be non-religious, however, there are two elements that make these hate crimes. First, the Hindus who come under attack are attacked violently while indulging in religious activity. Whether they are in a place of worship or not is immaterial to the crime. When individuals are attacked while indulging in religious practices, the attack in itself is a hindrance to their freedom to practice religion and therefore constitutes a hate crime. Secondly, religious supremacist doctrines and ideologies deem religious practices of Hindus to be offensive ab initio since they are considered “sinful” by these ideologies, worthy to be annihilated by force or coercion. Driven by these religious supremacist ideologies and doctrines, the attacks against Hindu devotees stem from intrinsic animosity towards Hinduism. In some cases, the trigger for the violence may be non-religious, however, it develops into a religiously motivated crime during the course of the violence. Since these attacks stem from animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism, they are considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. This case has been added to the tracker as the attack specifically targeted a Hindu Puja pandal, a temporary structure erected for the purpose of conducting religious worship and rituals. Such pandals are central to Hindu religious celebrations, especially during major festivals such as Durga Puja, Kali Puja or Saraswati Puja. Targeting a religious site like a pandal during an ongoing religious ceremony constitutes a direct assault on the religious identity and practices of the Hindu community. Attacks on Hindu religious gatherings and pandals by Muslim mobs are widely recognised as anti-Hindu hate crimes, as these incidents are not isolated but rather form part of a premeditated effort to disrupt Hindu religious events and to threaten and intimidate the Hindu community. Secondly, the attack occurred while a puja was being conducted, which is regarded as a sacred act in Hinduism. Any violent interruption or desecration during such rituals is considered a grave religious offence, causing not only physical injury but also spiritual and emotional harm to the devotees and the wider community. An attack on the puja pandal during the ceremony demonstrates that the perpetrators held no respect for Hindu religious practices. The fact that the attack took place during the puja highlights the intense hatred and disdain the perpetrators harboured towards Hinduism and the Hindu community. Furthermore, the physical assault on Hindu devotees, including the use of sharp weapons, which resulted in injuries, further underscores the religiously motivated nature of the crime. Since the attackers were armed, it becomes obvious that the attack was premeditated and carefully planned. The use of such weapons requires preparation, acquisition of materials, and coordination among participants, all of which suggest a deliberate and organised effort rather than a spontaneous act of violence. Such attacks are intended to instil fear, discourage public expressions of Hindu faith, and intimidate the Hindu community. The injury and trauma suffered by devotees during the worship amplify the sense of vulnerability and persecution felt by the Hindu community in the aftermath of such incidents. In summary, attacking a Hindu Puja pandal during an ongoing religious ceremony is a clear manifestation of an anti-Hindu hate crime. It involves the deliberate targeting of a sacred space, the disruption of religious practices, and the infliction of harm on devotees because of their Hindu identity. Such acts not only violate the physical sanctity of the site but also aim to defile the religious observance, causing deep distress and a sense of insecurity among Hindus. Instances of violence against religious centres and Hindu devotees are acts motivated by religious animosity towards Hindus, which led to the events of this attack. As this case fits the parameters of a religiously motivated crime, it is being added to the hate crime database.