Idols of Maa Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati vandalized ahead of Durga Puja
Hooghly district, West Bengal, India 
13 September, 2024
Case Summary
Ahead of Durga Puja, idols of Hindu deities were found vandalized in Jharia village, Hooghly district, West Bengal. The desecration of idols of Maa Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati was confirmed by BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya on social media. In a tweet on 14th September, he condemned the incident, accusing the Goghat police of failing to take action. He stated the idols had been "raped and defiled" and criticized the police for their inaction. A video shared by Malviya showed the desecrated idols. In response to the incident, local Hindus protested by blocking a highway, demanding strict action against those responsible for the vandalism.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected is- 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. In Hinduism, temples are sacred spaces of worship, and the deities are revered with deep respect. Acts of temple vandalism and deliberate idol desecration, as demonstrated in this case, are seen as deeply offensive and sacrilegious. Such actions often stem from entrenched animosity and an intent to insult the faith. This clear attack on religious sentiments exemplifies hate and justifies its inclusion in the tracker. It is important to mention here that though the last update was that the miscreants were unknown, regardless, the action stemmed out of hatred against Hinduism and resulted in the desecration of the sacred temple and would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
