Cow slaughter near Jagannath temple in Odisha sparks outrage; three Muslim men arrested
Jagatsinghapur, Odisha, India 
6 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Ibrisingh village, located in the Jagatsinghapura district of Odisha, cows were slaughtered near the Jagannath temple premises by a group of Muslims during Eid-ul-Adha. The incident led to heightened tensions in the area, with villagers staging a road blockade to demand action. Upon receiving information, the police arrived at the scene and held discussions with the protesting villagers. Inspector-in-Charge of Tirtol police station, Pradipta Sethi, stated that the blockade was lifted after police arrested three Muslim individuals accused in the case. The arrests were made following a complaint lodged by Bajrang Dal activist Sanjay Mallick. The accused, identified as Mojamal Khan, Alam Sha, and Murshid Alam, were apprehended under sections 296 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Orissa Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1980. The accused were subsequently produced in court on 8th June 2025.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected 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. The other subcategory 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 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. This incident constitutes a hate crime, as it involved the deliberate slaughter of cows by Muslims near a Hindu temple. In Hinduism, temples are sacred spaces of worship, and the deities are revered with deep respect. Acts of temple defilement, as demonstrated in this case, are deeply offensive and sacrilegious to Hindus. This reflects a profound disregard for Hindu faith and its practices, rooted in underlying animosity towards Hinduism. This incident exemplifies an intentional effort to insult religious sentiments, warranting its inclusion as a serious offence motivated by hatred. It cannot be regarded merely as a breach of law and order, but as a calculated attempt to dishonour Hindu religious customs, especially those related to temple purity and ritual observance. While the Islamic tradition of animal sacrifice during Eid al-Adha—known as Qurbani—is a significant religious observance, the choice to slaughter cows specifically in or near the vicinity of Hindu temples transcends religious practice and enters the domain of deliberate desecration and communal provocation. In Hinduism, the cow is revered as a sacred symbol of life, motherhood, and divinity. Temples, as consecrated spaces, are not merely places of worship but embodiments of spiritual sanctity where even the thought of violence or impurity is considered sacrilegious. When Muslims choose to perform cow slaughter in or around these sacred Hindu spaces, it cannot be dismissed as a mere religious act. Instead, it becomes a highly symbolic gesture of disregard and antagonism, aimed at mocking Hindu beliefs, hurting religious sentiments, and asserting ideological dominance in spaces that are explicitly sacred to another faith. This behaviour reflects not just insensitivity but a conscious and targeted affront to a deeply held Hindu conviction, and must be seen in the broader context of Islamic supremacism or communal intimidation. Such acts fall under the ambit of religiously motivated hate crimes because they violate the religious freedom and dignity of Hindus by deliberately defiling their most sacred symbols and spaces. Just as the desecration of a mosque or church would rightly be condemned as a hate act, the slaughter of cows near a Hindu temple is a direct assault on Hindu religious identity. It should be treated with the same seriousness by society and the legal system. In Sanatan Dharma, the cow is also considered sacred and revered as a symbol of life and nurturing. However, historically, Muslim extremists and their religious scholars have encouraged cow sacrifice in India as a means to insult Hindus, whom they view as low-born infidels. In the past, Muslim rulers in India slaughtered cows to insult Hindus, desecrate their temples, and even used beef as a tool for forced conversion to Islam. This context reflects a historical pattern of asserting Islamic supremacy and undermining Hinduism. Such actions, like slaughtering cows near Hindu temples, are motivated by hatred and contempt for Hindus and their religion. These acts are rooted in a desire to assert Islamic superiority over Hindus and to demean their religious customs and defile their sacred shrines. Since this case is motivated by animosity towards Hindus and their religion, this case is being added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
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