Muslim youths attack Khatu Shyam Yatra in Alwar, Rajasthan, tear religious posters

Case ID : b3fc0b8 | Location : Alwar, Rajasthan, India | Date of Incident : Sun, 20 August, 2023

Case ID : b3fc0b8

Alwar, Rajasthan, India

20 August, 2023

Muslim youths attack Khatu Shyam Yatra in Alwar, Rajasthan, tear religious posters

Attack not resulting in death

Attack on religious procession

Attack on Hindu religious representations

Desecration of Hindu religious symbol

Case Summary

An incident occurred in Alwar, Rajasthan, where Muslims attacked Khatu Shyam's yatra in the Ramgarh area, leading to tension in the region. Religious posters were torn and trampled, and the bus driver was assaulted for protesting. This sparked anger among Hindu participants and organization workers, who demanded strict action against the perpetrators, staging protests outside the police station. The annual yatra, from Chhoti Bawdi to Khatu Ringas, was disrupted when two Muslim individuals on a bike blocked the road and assaulted the bus driver, while also destroying posters. Police arrested two suspects in connection with the incident, namely Rasheed and Sajid. The incident prompted members of 'Shyam Sakha Mandal' and Hindu organizations to gather and protest against local MLA Safia Khan and 'Mewat Development Board' Chairman Zubair Khan.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

The outward celebration and display of religious symbols in an intrinsic part of Hinduism. Religious processions on various festivals are age-old traditions and a way to manifest faith and form a part of the religious practices of Hindus. On several occasions, such religious processions come under attack by non-Hindu mobs, in a manifestation of their animosity towards Hinduism and their practices. The reasons cited for such violent attacks are many and range from crossing a non-Hindu resident-dominated area to playing loud music, crossing from an area where there is a religious structure of another faith etc. The violent attacks are triggered by the outward display of religiosity by Hindus. The attacks are mainly a manifestation of religious supremacist doctrine which believes that idolatry, essentially the Hindu faith, is one that deserves to be annihilated since the very tenets of Hinduism, its practices and traditions are considered a sin in those doctrines. Since these attacks emanate from intrinsic and doctrinal animosity towards Hindus and Hinduism, it is considered a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This case is also being added to desecration of religious symbols under the primary category 'attack on Hindu religious symbols'. 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.