Muslim men attack Hindu family making ganpati idols in Rajkot
Rajkot, Gujarat, India 
25 August, 2023
Case Summary
On August 26, 2023, in Rajkot, a Hindu family crafting Ganpati idols was attacked by three Muslim men: Amin, Rafiq, and Sameer. Kishan Rathod, from Rajasthan and residing in Rajkot, lodged a complaint after they vandalized the idols. The incident occurred around 10 PM while Rathod was painting the idols. Amin and his associates disrupted the process, breaking idols and assaulting Rathod's family. Rathod sought help from Naseemben, Irfan Siddiqui's sister-in-law, the owner of the premises where they worked. The attackers verbally abused Naseemben and damaged a vehicle before Rathod called the police. The assailants fled upon the police's arrival.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
Distinct elements in this particular case demonstrate that the crime was committed while harbouring a bias against the Hindu faith. As per case details, there are two prime categories under which this case has been placed in the hate tracker, namely, 'attack not resulting in death' and 'attack on Hindu religious symbols'. To break down the case further, the sub-category 'attack for Hindu identity' has been selected under the first prime category while the sub-category 'desecration of Hindu religious symbol' has been chosen under the second prime category. Attack for Hindu identity: In several cases, Hindus are attacked merely for their Hindu identity without any perceived provocation. A classic example of this category of religiously motivated hate crime is a murder in 2016. 7 ISIS terrorists were convicted for shooting a school principal in Kanpur because they got ‘triggered’ seeing the Kalava on his wrist and tilak that he had put. In this, the Hindu victim had offered no provocation except for his Hindu religious identity. The motivation for the murder was purely religious, driven by religious supremacy. Such cases where Hindus are targeted merely for their religious identity would be documented as a hate crime under this category. 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. Here, the Muslim miscreants assaulted a Hindu family that made Ganpati idols. While the Hindu victim was innocuously painting the idols, the Muslim perpetrators disrupted the process, broke the idols and assaulted the Hindu victim and his family. In Hinduism, idols (murtis) of deities are not just symbolic representations but are considered embodiments of the divine. They are objects of profound veneration and are integral to religious practices and rituals. Desecrating the idol of a Hindu deity is considered a hate crime as it is considered a profound offence against religious sentiments.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
