Insult to Hindu religious sentiments: Muslim men dump severed cow head near Hindu temple in Assam
Lakhipur, Assam, India 
13 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Lakhipur town of Goalpara district, Assam, communal tensions escalated after the severed head of a cow was deliberately dumped near a Hindu temple by some Muslim men. According to the reports, some Muslim men deliberately dumped the severed head of a cow near a Kali Mata Temple. The act was seen as a calculated move to provoke and hurt the religious sentiments of the local Hindu community. The incident follows a pattern of similar acts of desecration that have occurred in Assam’s Muslim-majority Dhubri district, where Hindu sentiments were insulted in a similar way. Furthermore, local residents also stated that this wasn’t an isolated incident; in the past, cow legs and carcasses have been dumped near temple premises and outside the homes of Hindu residents, causing deep unrest and anger. Upon receiving information, the Lakhipur police arrived at the scene and removed the severed head of the cow. As of the date of writing this report, police arrested five Muslim men named Bodir Ali, Hazarat Ali, Tara Mia, Shajamal Mia, and Jahangir Alom, in connection with the case.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. The subcategory selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. 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. This incident constitutes a hate crime, as it involved the deliberate dumping of a severed cow head near the Kali Mata temple by Muslim men. In Hinduism, temples are sacred spaces of worship, and the deities are revered with deep respect. Acts of temple vandalism, deliberate idol desecration, and defilement, as demonstrated in this case, are regarded as deeply offensive and sacrilegious to Hindus. Such actions reflect a profound disregard for the Hindu faith and its practices, rooted in underlying animosity towards Hinduism. This incident exemplifies an intentional effort to insult religious sentiments by the Muslim community, warranting its classification as a crime motivated by hatred towards Hindus and their faith. It cannot be regarded merely as a breach of law and order, but rather as a calculated attempt to dishonour Hindu religious customs, especially those related to temple purity and ritual observance. When some Muslims threw the severed cow head near the temple, it was 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. Furthermore, local residents also stated that cow legs and carcasses have been dumped multiple times near temple premises and outside the homes of Hindu residents. 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 religious supremacism or communal intimidation. These actions are committed to deliberately desecrate Hindu temples and provoke communal tensions. In Hinduism, the cow is revered as a sacred symbol of life, motherhood, and divinity. This act of dumping a severed cow head inside Hindu temples highlights that the perpetrators' behaviour reflects not only insensitivity but a conscious and targeted affront to deeply held Hindu religious sentiments, and therefore must be seen in the broader context of communal intimidation. It is important to mention here that even 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, Islamic 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 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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