Ancient Hindu temple desecrated and illegally encroached upon by members of Muslim community in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India 
5 January, 2026
Case Summary
In the Char Khamba Kshetra of Tekri, Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, an ancient Hindu temple was desecrated and illegally encroached upon by members of the Muslim community According to reports, an ancient Shiva temple's land was encroached upon by members of the Muslim community. They also removed the consecrated Shivalinga installed in the temple, and deliberately vandalised the gomukha (ritual stone outlet of the temple). Furthermore, a tin shed was erected over the temple premises to conceal both the encroachment and the damage inflicted on the sacred structure, effectively erasing the visible identity of the mandir. Subsequently, Hindu organisations, including Bajrang Dal, documented the desecration of the temple and filed a formal complaint with the local administration, demanding the removal of encroachers and restoration of the temple to its former glory. The incident triggered widespread anger among Hindu groups, with Bajrang Dal issuing a warning of direct action if authorities failed to act promptly to reclaim the temple land and reinstate the desecrated religious symbols.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Attack on Hindu religious representation. Within it, the sub-category selected is - Attack on temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The other sub-category 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. The other sub-category selected is - Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Not only the Temple but the Temple premises in its entirety are considered sacred by Hindus. In several cases, the premises of the Temple and/or religious centre are illicitly taken over by institutions belonging to other faiths – like the Waqf board or the Church. Other times, the temple property, land or the property of religious centres are illicitly encroached by non-Hindu groups. Any illicit take over or encroachment is a crime an initio, however, when non-Hindu groups illicitly take over or encroach the sacred land of Hindus, it is an affront to the Hindu community and is therefore classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. This case has been added to the tracker because the Shiva temple was deliberately desecrated and illegally encroached upon by members of the Muslim community. Hindu temples hold immense spiritual and cultural importance within the Hindu faith. For Hindus, temples are not merely physical structures but sanctified spaces that embody the divine presence of Hindu deities. The desecration and illegal encroachment of such a site constituted not just an act of property damage but reflected a deeper hostility towards Hindu religious beliefs and identity. The incident also involved the deliberate desecration of core Hindu religious symbols through the removal of the consecrated Shivalinga and the vandalism of the gomukha, which are central to the ritual and spiritual functioning of a Shiva temple. In Hinduism, the Shivalinga is not an object of ornamentation but a sacred manifestation of Lord Shiva, revered as a living embodiment of the divine. Its removal without a proper ritual and the destruction of associated ritual elements amounted to a direct affront to Hindu religious sentiments and demonstrated intentional disrespect towards Hindu places of worship. Furthermore, the temple land was also illegally encroached upon by the Muslim community. The temple land or areas around the sacred space are not simply a piece of property; they hold profound religious significance for the Hindu community. For Hindus, both the temple and its land are regarded as the abode of the deity. Thus, any form of encroachment or seizure of temple land is an attack on the religious rights and sentiments of Hindus, disrupting their ability to worship and to maintain their sacred spaces. Any unauthorised occupation of this space, especially one that halts worship and religious observance, is a violation of that sanctity. Such acts of violence against Hindu temples and their idols are not just an attack on temple property; they are an act of violence against the religious sentiments of the Hindu community that derives spiritual, cultural and social meaning from that temple space. Devotees visit temples seeking peace, spiritual solace and a sense of continuity with their religious traditions. When a sacred temple is encroached upon, concealed and defiled, it undermines the community’s sense of security and belonging. Since such actions stem from religious animosity towards Hinduism and its places of worship, this case has been added to the tracker. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incidents based on when an event occurred or when the victim's ordeal began. It is important to clarify that none of the media sources covering this case has specified the exact date when the temple encroachment began. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media, 6 January 2026.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
