Idols of Hindu deities desecrated by miscreants ahead of Saraswati Puja celebrations in West Bengal’s East Midnapore
Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India 
3 January, 2026
Case Summary
In the East Midnapore district of West Bengal, idols of Hindu deities were desecrated by unidentified miscreants on the night of 4 January 2026. This occurred just weeks before the Saraswati Puja festival on 23 January 2026. According to reports, at Kanthal Potti, under the Garkamalpur Panchayat in the Mahishadal area, the miscreants desecrated several under-construction murtis of Maa Basanti and Devi Saraswati. Multiple idols were found partially or completely broken on the morning of 5 January 2025. Specific parts of the idols appeared to have been deliberately targeted, pointing to a calculated act rather than accidental damage. The vandalism deeply hurt the religious sentiments of local residents, who were preparing for the upcoming Saraswati Puja festival. Villagers expressed shock and anger over the incident, terming it a direct attack on the Hindu faith and communal harmony. “These idols are sacred to us. Such an act is not just the destruction of clay, but an assault on our beliefs,” said a local resident. Upon receiving information, the police reached the spot and initiated an investigation. Security in the area had been stepped up, and efforts were underway to identify those responsible. Authorities also assured strict action against the culprits and appealed to residents to maintain peace and restraint. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, on 5 January 2026, made a Facebook post highlighting this incident. He also noted that it occurred just weeks before the Saraswati Puja celebrations on 23 January 2026. He demanded that the state administration immediately identify those involved and take action against them.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbols. 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. This incident qualifies as a hate crime because the perpetrators deliberately desecrated sacred idols of Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Basanti, two revered Hindu deities. In Hindu tradition, idols (murtis) serve as physical embodiments of the divine, consecrated through elaborate rituals like prana pratishtha to house the deity's presence. Hindus hold these murtis in utmost reverence, viewing them as living extensions of gods and goddesses central to worship, festivals, and daily devotion. Any act of desecration, such as smashing or vandalising them, strikes at the core of the Hindu faith, symbolising profound disrespect and hostility. This transforms the vandalism into a religiously motivated hate crime, fuelled by animosity against Hindus, as it targets their most sacred symbols rather than mere property. The fact that this desecration occurred just weeks before the Saraswati Puja celebrations on 23 January 2026 in West Bengal underscores that it was no random act of vandalism. Instead, it directly aimed to desecrate idols and create hurdles in the festival's preparations, disrupting religious worship and instilling fear. Such precise timing showcases deep animosity towards the Hindu community and their faith, elevating this to a clear case of religiously motivated hate crime designed to intimidate the Hindu community and disrespect their beliefs. In this case, even though the perpetrators' identities remain unknown, the act is clearly motivated by deep-seated religious animosity towards the Hindu community and their faith. Therefore, this case is being added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
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