Over 30 idols of goddess vandalised ahead of Saraswati Puja

Case Summary
In Murshidabad's Baharampur town, West Bengal, over 30 under-construction murtis of Ma Saraswati, prepared for the upcoming Saraswati Puja, were vandalised by unidentified miscreants. Local potters, who left the nearly finished idols beside Netaji Road overnight, discovered the destruction in the morning, with many idols broken and scattered on the road. This unprecedented attack left the potters and locals shocked. Police from Baharampur Station assured an investigation to identify and arrest the culprits, but no arrests have been made so far.
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. Because of the details of the case, it has been placed under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representation. 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. Hinduism regards its deities with profound reverence, considering them sacred. Acts of 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
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Perpetrators Details
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