Hindu temple bulldozed and demolished by Christian man in Chhattisgarh
Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, India 
27 May, 2025
Case Summary
In the Bhathanpali village in Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman was demolished under the orders of a Christian man named Nirmal Sarathi. The entire temple was bulldozed, leading to heightened tensions in the area. According to media reports, the accused Nirmal Sarathi was earlier a Hindu, but later converted to Christianity. There was a Hanuman temple situated in front of the house of Nirmal Sarathi. A church belonging to the Christian community was also built opposite his house. Nirmal Sarathi himself had originally constructed the Hanuman temple. However, he later converted to Christianity. Following his conversion, the presence of both a temple and a church in front of his house became a point of contention, with members of the Christian community repeatedly demanding the removal of the temple. To this, Nirmal Sarathi arranged for a JCB to be brought from Lahanga Pali, a nearby village, to demolish the temple. The JCB operator, Bhogilal Sarathi, destroyed the Hanuman temple, which sparked a fierce dispute among the villagers. This action was opposed by Nirmal Sarathi, Suraj Sarathi, and his son Harishchandra Sarathi. Locals reported that Christian conversions were actively taking place in the area. The temple, which had been recently constructed, did not yet have an idol installed. Villagers informed leaders of the Bajrang Dal about the demolition. They also stated that the church had been constructed illegally on Hindu land through forcible occupation and intimidation of the original owners. Police arrived at the scene, where a verbal altercation and scuffle ensued between members of Hindu organisations, the police, and the local administration. Subsequently, a large police presence was deployed to maintain peace in the area. Following the demolition, Hindu organisations and local residents were enraged. A member of a Hindu organisation climbed onto the roof of the church, removed the cross, and hoisted a saffron flag. Hindu groups demanded that the administration demolish the church as well. The police responded firmly, arresting the man who operated the bulldozer and demolished the temple, as well as the Hindu man who hoisted the saffron flag atop the church. The police arrested several people at the spot.
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- 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. The other subcategory selected is- Desecration of the 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 demolition of the Hanuman temple in Bhathanpali village, Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, is not merely a case of property destruction or a personal decision by a private individual. It represents a deliberate act of religious hostility that qualifies as a hate crime against the Hindu community. The key figure in the incident, Nirmal Sarathi, originally built the temple when he identified as a Hindu. However, after converting to Christianity, he not only renounced his previous faith but also appeared to develop active animosity toward it. This is crucial. There is a clear difference between no longer practising a religion and taking aggressive action to insult or erase that religion. By ordering the bulldozing of a Hindu temple he once built, Nirmal Sarathi crossed that line—his actions reflect not just dissociation, but hatred toward the Hindu faith. For Hindus, temples are not just structures, but they are sacred spaces where the divine resides. Even a temple without a fully installed idol carries immense spiritual and cultural value. The act of destroying a temple is seen by Hindus as deeply offensive and sacrilegious, akin to desecrating a holy site. It’s not merely an attack on bricks and mortar, but an attack on faith, tradition, and the spiritual sanctity of an entire community. Furthermore, the reaction from the local Hindu population and organisations, who responded with protests and symbolic resistance by hoisting a saffron flag, shows the deep emotional and religious hurt caused by the demolition. In conclusion, the demolition of the Hanuman temple under the direction of a Christian convert reflects a targeted act of hate. It was not a simple case of personal belief or land dispute, but a symbolic and physical erasure of a religious site, driven by hostility toward a faith that the individual had rejected. Such actions amount to hate crimes because they are intended not only to destroy a structure, but to insult, provoke, and suppress the religious identity of a community.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
