Hindu temple in Hathras targeted as antisocial elements scatter bones and egg shells near temple premises
Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, India 
24 February, 2026
Case Summary
Shri Balaji Maharaj Mandir, a Hindu temple located in the Shrinagar area of Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, was desecrated as bones and egg shells were found scattered near its premises. The discovery deeply disturbed local Hindu devotees, who viewed the act as a deliberate attempt to defile a sacred religious site and disrupt communal harmony in the area. Bones and eggshells were found scattered close to the temple grounds, a space regarded as sacred by local Hindu residents. Hindu organisations described the act as an intentional desecration carried out to spread animosity and unsettle religious harmony in the locality. The identity of the individuals responsible for leaving the bones and egg shells near the temple premises remained unknown at the time of documenting this incident. Following the discovery, officials of the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad, also known as the International Hindu Council, and the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal reached the District Magistrate's office on 25 February and submitted a memorandum addressed to the District Magistrate, which was handed over to the Officer in Charge of the Collectorate. The memorandum was presented under the leadership of Mursan Block Vice President Vishal Kulshreshtha and Rashtriya Bajrang Dal District General Secretary Ashutosh Agarwal. The organisations demanded prompt identification of those responsible and strict action against them. They also urged the administration to implement effective measures to prevent such incidents from occurring again and to ensure the protection of Hindu religious sites.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category for this case is "Attack on Hindu religious representations". The sub-category here 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. Another sub-category for this case is "Defiling religious customs". 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. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement 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 religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. One other sub-category for this case 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. This case qualified as a hate crime on the basis that bones and eggshells, items regarded as deeply impure within Hindu religious tradition, were deliberately left near the premises of Shri Balaji Maharaj Mandir in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. The placement of these items near a functioning Hindu temple pointed to a targeted act of desecration directed at a Hindu religious site and at the Hindu community that worshipped there. The act was not random or accidental but was carried out with the understanding that these items would cause profound religious offence and defile the sanctity of the temple and its surroundings. The deliberate placement of bones and egg shells near the temple premises constituted a direct and targeted attack on a Hindu place of worship. In Hindu tradition, a temple is not merely a physical structure but a sacred space believed to be inhabited by the divine. The area surrounding a temple is treated as an extension of that sacred space. By leaving items of ritual impurity in the immediate vicinity of the temple, the perpetrators demonstrated an intention to violate and desecrate a site of deep spiritual importance. The act was directed specifically at this Hindu temple and at the devotees who visited it. The introduction of bones and egg shells near the temple represented a conscious violation of the rules governing ritual purity in Hindu worship. Hindu temples operate under established codes of sanctity, and the surrounding space is maintained accordingly. Devotees approaching a temple observe these principles as part of their religious practice. The deliberate presence of ritually impure items in that space was not merely an act of littering but a knowing breach of the customs that preserve the temple’s sanctity. This act interfered with the ability of Hindu devotees to approach and worship in accordance with their beliefs and traditions. Beyond the breach of ritual norms, the act constituted a direct affront to Hindu religious custom. Bones and egg shells hold ritual impurity within Hindu tradition, and their placement near a sacred site carried the meaning of active defilement. The choice of such items, and their positioning specifically near a Hindu temple, reflected awareness of their religious significance and the impact they would have. The deliberate use of objects understood to cause religious offence underscored the religiously motivated nature of the act. The wider impact on the Hindu community in Hathras confirmed its seriousness. The discovery caused visible distress and anger among local devotees, prompting officials of the Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad, known in English as the International Hindu Council, and the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal to submit a formal memorandum to the District Magistrate demanding action. The community’s collective response, including the demand for strict action against those responsible and preventive measures for the future, reflected the depth of hurt caused to Hindu religious sentiments. The targeting of a Hindu temple with objects considered ritually impure represented not only damage to a physical space but an affront to the faith, customs, and dignity of the Hindu community. Given that this case met the parameters of a religiously motivated hate crime, it was added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia tracker. Disclaimer: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incident dates based on when a crime occurred, or a victim's ordeal began, rather than when the media reported it. In this case, media reports did not state the exact date when the desecration took place. Therefore, February 25, 2026, the date on which Hindu organisations submitted a formal memorandum to the District Magistrate in response to the incident, served as the indicative incident date. This was recorded for documentation purposes only.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
