Hindu temple desecrated, stepwall built during Queen Durgavati’s reign illegally converted into a mausoleum

Case Summary
The stepwell of Badshah Halwai Mandir installed during the period of Queen Durgavati of Gondwana has been converted into a mausoleum. Furthermore, the stepwell has been painted with a green colour to incorporate it into the Muslim faith. The Hindu Seva Parishad made a video after closely examining the stepwell. They asserted that the statue of Nandi Maharaj, Shivlinga, the Swastika sign and the Shri Yantra are visible at the entry and represent the Sanatan culture. The group’s officials have charged that Muslims have been encroaching upon the land in the past few years and also built a shrine there. Badshah Halwai temple and the stepwell are under the Archaeological Department. It has long been a site of worship for the adherents of Sanatan Dharma and it also contains the remains of Hindu idols.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations and within this, the sub-category selected is- Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple. 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. Not only the Temple but the Temple premises in its entirety are considered sacred by Hindus. In several cases, the premises of the Temple and/or religious centre are illicitly taken over by institutions belonging to other faiths – like the Waqf board or the Church. Other times, the temple property, land or the property of religious centres are illicitly encroached by non-Hindu groups. Any illicit take over or encroachment is a crime an initio, however, when non-Hindu groups illicitly take over or encroach the sacred land of Hindus, it is an affront to the Hindu community and is therefore classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This incident involves the deliberate transformation of a historically significant Hindu religious site. The stepwell of the Badshah Halwai Mandir, associated with Queen Durgavati of Gondwana, has been converted into a mausoleum, signifying an erasure of its original Hindu identity. Additionally, painting the stepwell green to align it with Islamic traditions further demonstrates an intent to alter the site's religious and cultural character. The Hindu Seva Parishad’s findings, which reveal the presence of sacred Hindu symbols like the Nandi Maharaj statue, Shivlinga, Swastika, and Shri Yantra at the entrance, highlight the deliberate targeting of Hindu representations. Such actions carried out with an apparent disregard for the sanctity of a Hindu religious site, reflect a broader pattern of hostility towards Hindu religious practices and cultural symbols, marking this as a religiously motivated attack aimed at eroding the Hindu identity in the region.

Case Status
Complaint filed

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown