Hindu religious sentiments mocked as objectionable video of Lord Ram shared on social media in Auraiya
Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, India 
15 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Jagupur village, Auraiya district, Uttar Pradesh, an inflammatory video mocking Lord Ram was uploaded on social media by three youths named Pranshu Jatav, Anil Dohre, and Sandeep. The objectionable video featured a cartoon depiction of Lord Ram fighting in a WWE-style wrestling ring. The three youths uploaded the video to mock the Hindu deity, Lord Ram. The villagers also said that the video was intended to hurt Hindu religious sentiments. Residents also noted that this was not the first time these individuals had shared objectionable content about Hindu gods on social media. On previous occasions, the three accused had posted similar offensive material targeting Hinduism and Hindu deities, which caused tensions in the area. After the video's circulation, around 15 villagers, led by Pushpendra Singh, filed a written complaint at Bidhuna police station, demanding strict action against the accused to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident sparked significant outrage in the village and led to protests outside the police station. Following this, the police initiated an investigation and registered a case under relevant sections of the IT Act and laws concerning the hurting of religious sentiments. The authorities also assured that the three accused would not be spared and that any previously posted objectionable content by them would also be investigated. The administration appealed for peace and urged residents not to spread or believe rumours as the video continued to go viral in the neighbouring villages.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. Another primary category relevant in this case is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Iconoclastic representation of Hindu gods/ goddesses. An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. 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. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. The incident in Auraiya district, where a video insulting Lord Ram was posted on social media by three youths, constitutes hate speech against Hindus because it involves deliberate and public expressions intended to insult and provoke the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. In this case, the video was not merely an expression of personal opinion but was designed to offend and disrespect core Hindu beliefs, specifically targeting a revered deity and, by extension, the followers of Hinduism. Hindu Deities are an integral part of the Hindu religion, and Lord Ram is one of the most revered deities in Hinduism. Any attempt to mock or insult any revered Hindu deity is born out of animosity towards Hinduism. In this case, the objectionable video was a direct attack on the sanctity of the Hindu faith. It was, in fact, not a random or misguided act, but a calculated and premeditated effort to attack Hinduism and the larger Hindu society. Another point to highlight is that the villagers stated that the three accused had posted such objectionable videos even before. The fact that the accused had previously posted similar inflammatory content targeting Hindu gods demonstrates a pattern of behaviour aimed at inciting hostility and causing distress within the Hindu community. Repeated actions of this nature go beyond mere criticism or satire and are intended to foster animosity, disrupt harmony, and undermine respect for the Hindu faith. Such actions are well-calculated actions aimed at undermining and disrespecting the Hindu faith. Such actions are motivated by deep-rooted religious hostility and disdain for Hindus and their beliefs. Such acts are considered hate speech because they go beyond criticism or debate and instead seek to denigrate a religious group, in this case, the Hindus, and their revered deities, thereby fostering animosity against the Hindu community. The content of the video, as described, was deemed so inflammatory that it provoked outrage among local Hindu villagers. Such instances of denigrating Hindu deities are a result of deep-seated religious animosity towards Hindus and their faith. In recent times, social media has increasingly become a platform for anti-Hindu hate, with derogatory memes, videos, and messages targeting Hindu religious symbols, practices, and deities. Such content is recognised as part of a broader pattern of Hinduphobia and religious hate speech online. This deliberate targeting of revered religious deities firmly establishes this act as a religiously motivated hate speech; therefore, it is being categorised under the hate crime database. Disclaimer: It is important to clarify that the report does not specify the exact date when the anti-Hindu video was uploaded on social media. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the incident was reported in the media.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
