Derogatory posts targeting Hindu deities and community made by Muslim youths on social media; Assam police arrests accused
Lakhimpur, Assam, India 
9 June, 2025
Case Summary
On social media, inflammatory posts targeting the Hindu community and Hindu deities were made by two Muslim men in Assam, leading to their arrest by the Assam police. The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the Assam police had apprehended two Muslim individuals for posting offensive content about the Hindu community and Hindu deities on social media. The accused were identified as Sabikul Islam, a resident of Lakhimpur, and Dulal Bora. Sabikul Islam had posted communally sensitive material directly targeting the Hindu community, while Dulal Bora made derogatory posts about Hindu deities, specifically Lord Krishna and Goddess Rukmini. Following this, both Muslim individuals were arrested by the Assam police and charged under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the hate crime database under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs and mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. In this case, one of the accused, Sabikul Islam, made communal remarks directly targeting the Hindu community. Such statements are a textbook example of hate speech, as they are intended to spread venom against the Hindu community. By singling out Hindus for derogatory or inflammatory comments, the Muslim accused sought to marginalise and delegitimise the community, exposing them to public hostility and diminishing their social standing. This form of speech exploits religious identity to foster animosity towards Hindus, which is the essence of hate speech as recognised in both legal and social contexts. The deliberate nature of these remarks, aimed at provoking communal tensions and inciting negative sentiments against Hindus, demonstrates a clear intent to harm the Hindu community. Such statements are the result of deep-rooted religious hostility and immense disdain towards Hindus and their religion. Additionally, the other accused, Dulal Bora, made derogatory remarks specifically targeting Hindu deities like Lord Krishna and goddess Rukmini. Acts that insult or attempt to insult religious beliefs or symbols are widely recognised as hate speech, particularly when they are done to outrage the religious feelings of a community. For Hindus, deities are not just religious icons but are central to their spiritual and cultural identity. Abusing or mocking these figures is a direct attack on the faith and dignity of the entire community. Lord Krishna and Goddess Rukmini are among the most worshipped and revered deities in the Hindu pantheon, and any derogatory remarks about them are an affront to Hindu sentiments. Such actions are designed to provoke anger, hurt sentiments, and create a climate of hostility and fear among Hindus. By targeting revered Hindu deities, the accused not only insulted individual beliefs but also contributed to a broader atmosphere of intolerance and animosity against the Hindu community and their religion, which is a defining feature of religiously motivated hate speech. Hence, this case is being added to the hate crime database. Disclaimer: It is important to clarify that the report does not specify the exact date when the anti-Hindu posts were posted. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
