Hindu temple targeted, sacred Shivalinga desecrated by miscreants in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India 
13 January, 2026
Case Summary
In the Khudaganj Nagariya area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, a Hindu temple was targeted, and the sacred Shivalinga kept inside the temple was desecrated by two miscreants. According to media reports, this occurred on 14 January 2026 at 11 p.m. The accused smashed the Shivalinga with a hammer. This action resulted in widespread outrage among members of Hindu organisations and local Hindu residents. Angry people surrounded the Thakurganj police station, shouting slogans and demanding strict action against the culprits. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the police took swift action against the accused and identified them as Abhishek Gautam and Puni. Gaurav Goswami, executive president of the Hindu Samaj Party, stated that around 11 p.m. on Wednesday (14 January 2026) night, locals heard the sound of hammers coming from the temple. When they arrived at the scene, they saw that the Shivalinga inside the temple had been completely shattered. According to local eyewitnesses, two men, Abhishek Gautam and Puni, broke the Shivalinga. The accused had brought hammers with them and systematically destroyed it. Thakurganj Inspector Omveer Singh said that as soon as information about the incident was received, police were dispatched to the scene. Based on the complaint, a case was registered, and the main accused, Abhishek, was arrested and sent to jail. The police further said that a thorough investigation was underway.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category selected in this case is- 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. The other subcategory 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. In this case, the desecration of a sacred Shivalinga in a Hindu temple in the Khudaganj Nagariya area of Lucknow constituted a religiously motivated hate crime. The two perpetrators targeted this revered Hindu site with hammers, smashing the sacred Shivalinga, a revered symbol central to Hindu worship. The precision of the attack on the temple, a divine abode for Lord Shiva, directly assaulted the faith and sentiments of the Hindu community, revealing deliberate religious hatred rather than random vandalism. Such desecration of a sacred space and religious symbol provoked widespread outrage among local Hindus and organisations, underscoring how the act aimed to inflame communal tensions through targeted sacrilege. The Shivalinga, one of Hinduism's most sacred symbols representing Lord Shiva, commanded profound devotion from Hindus, who revere it as an embodiment of the divine. The accused systematically destroyed it with hammers, exposing vicious animosity towards core Hindu beliefs and practices. This calculated damage went beyond mere property destruction, striking at the spiritual heart of Hindu identity and devotion, which marked it as a blatant anti-Hindu hate crime designed to wound religious sentiments. Attacking the Shivalinga amounted to an assault not just on a religious symbol but on the Hindu temple as a whole, a holy sanctuary embodying faith and cultural heritage. Eyewitnesses confirmed that Abhishek Gautam and Puni brought tools specifically to shatter the Shivalinga, demonstrating premeditated intent rooted in animosity against Hindu sacred spaces. By violating this inviolable site, the perpetrators sought to terrorise and demoralise the Hindu community, fitting the precise definition of a hate crime driven by religious malice. Attacks like this, desecrating sacred Hindu temples and revered symbols such as the Shivalinga, stemmed directly from deep-seated religious animosity against Hindus. Therefore, this case is added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
