Hindu temple land illegally encroached by land grabbers in Uttar Pradesh
Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India 
17 June, 2025
Case Summary
In Manshapur Kuti, Ambedkar Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, land belonging to the Thakur Ram Janki Temple was illegally occupied by land grabbers. According to media reports, Suryamani Yadav, district president of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate regarding the encroachment of the temple land. Yadav stated that in Manshapur, under Akbarpur Tehsil, there is a sacred monastery known as Manshapur Kuti, associated with revered Hindu saints such as Baba Dambardas and Nihaldas. Land mafias surrounded this monastery and began illegally occupying the temple land, constructing permanent structures over it. Despite a stay order on this construction, the illegal encroachment and building work on the temple land continued. Yadav further stated that the local administration and the police were assisting in the illegal encroachment of the temple land. Following this, the Hindu Yuva Vahini gave the administration one week to resolve the issue. If the encroachment was not removed within this period, the organisation said that they would stage a hunger strike in front of the District Magistrate’s office. They also stated that the entire responsibility for this situation would rest with the district administration.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple. 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. Not only the Temple but the Temple premises in its entirety are considered sacred by Hindus. In several cases, the premises of the Temple and/or religious centre are illicitly taken over by institutions belonging to other faiths – like the Waqf board or the Church. Other times, the temple property, land or the property of religious centres are illicitly encroached by non-Hindu groups. Any illicit take over or encroachment is a crime an initio, however, when non-Hindu groups illicitly take over or encroach the sacred land of Hindus, it is an affront to the Hindu community and is therefore classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. In this case, the land belonging to the Thakur Ram Janki Temple in Manshapur Kuti was illegally occupied, and permanent structures were constructed by land mafias. This constitutes a hate crime against Hindus. Firstly, the temple land is not a mere piece of property; it holds deep religious significance for the Hindu community. For Hindus, both the temple and its land are considered the abode of the deity. Any form of encroachment or takeover of temple land is an attack on the religious rights and sentiments of Hindus, disrupting their ability to worship and maintain their sacred spaces. This action also directly targets the Hindu community’s religious heritage. When such encroachment is carried out with the knowledge or support of the local officials, it signals institutional bias and a lack of protection for Hindu temples and their property. This not only emboldens the perpetrators but also fosters a sense of insecurity and marginalisation within the Hindu community. This systematic takeover of the temple land, despite legal orders to halt construction, is a clear indicator of targeted hostility towards the Hindu community and its sacred shrines. The temple also serves as a centre for religious and cultural activities, and such encroachments weaken the social fabric of the Hindu community. In summary, the Ambedkar Nagar case is a hate crime against Hindus because it involves the deliberate and unlawful encroachment of the sacred temple land. Such actions undermine the Hindu community’s religious rights and facilitate institutional bias against them. This is a direct attack on the identity of Hindus and their sacred temples; therefore, it warrants its inclusion in the hate crime database.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
