Muslim man disguised as Hindu enters camp of Hindu saint in Maha Kumbh 2025

Case Summary
Ayub was arrested at the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh camp of Mahant Yati Narsinghanand from the Dasna Temple in Ghaziabad. Ayub had entered the camp by presenting himself as Ayush, claiming he wanted to meet Narsinghanand. When his behaviour raised suspicion, the saints at the camp alerted the police. Upon interrogation, Ayub revealed his real name as Ayub Ali, a resident of Aliganj, Etah, Uttar Pradesh. He stated he had come alone to visit the Kumbh and did not know his presence at the camp was forbidden. Narsinghanand, concerned for his safety, stated that he had been a target of threats and violence, including an attack on his temple by a mob of 10,000 Muslims. He also mentioned receiving threats from a man named Zubair in Bangalore. Narsinghanand stated that he was under constant surveillance and feared for his life during the Maha Kumbh, where he believed a conspiracy was being planned against him.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Breaking rules of place of worship. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. One of these oral traditions or written traditions is the rules of specific temples. Certain temples have rules which are traditional rules, dependent on the worship of the presiding deities. These rules and traditions have been followed for thousands of years whether they find scriptural mention or not. Such traditions are based on the nature and rules of worship of the presiding deity of that temple. Any non-compliance of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the presiding deity but also disregard for the faith of the devotees of that deity/temple and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition and the deity itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific temple and presiding deity, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The act of concealing his religious identity and pretending to be a Hindu in order to gain access to the Kumbh Mela, a significant Hindu religious event, reflects the Muslim perpetrator's malicious intent. This deliberate effort to deceive and bypass established religious boundaries suggests an agenda that goes beyond mere curiosity or a desire to participate. The accused's actions can be interpreted as an attempt to undermine or challenge the religious and cultural norms of the event, potentially seeking to exploit the situation for disruptive purposes. By hiding his true identity, the individual not only disrespected the sanctity of the event but also signalled an intention to deceive and possibly cause harm to the Hindus present. This act of deception, aimed primarily at targeting Hindus, amounts to a form of religious harassment and warrants inclusion in a hate crime tracker due to its religiously motivated nature. It is also important to mention here that the fact that the perpetrator specifically chose to enter Mahant Yati Narsinghanand's camp, out of the many other camps at the Kumbh, further underscores his malicious intent. Mahant Yati Narsinghanand has been a target of Islamists across the globe due to his outspoken views on Hinduism and his strong criticism of Islam. He has faced numerous threats, both physical and online, from various Islamist groups. His temple in Dasna, Ghaziabad, has been targeted in the past, including an attack by a mob of 10,000 Muslims, which further highlights the high level of animosity directed at him. As a result, he is constantly under threat, and his safety is a concern, especially given the ongoing campaign against his beliefs by radical Islamist factions. His status as a vocal defender of Hindu values, combined with the global hostility he faces from various Islamic groups, positions him as a prominent target for religiously motivated attacks. Given this context, the perpetrator's actions suggest a deeper, more sinister motive, possibly aiming to cause harm or disrupt the safety of the Hindu seer and his followers. This deliberate targeting of Narsinghanand’s camp, where security concerns are already heightened due to past threats, reflects not just an attempt to breach a religious space, but also a potential escalation of the hostility towards Hindu religious figures, further emphasising the religiously motivated nature of his actions.

Case Status
Arrested

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male